5 Steps to Implement the RIME or ICGM Index

In a previous blog post, we explained what the ICGM or RIME index is, how it is calculated, and what applications it has in the world of maintenance. It explained the increasing importance of correctly prioritizing, and under an objective prism, the different maintenance tasks to optimize the use of the resources of the maintenance department. If you have not read the post in question, you can do so through this link: “What is the RIME or ICGM index in maintenance?”

In that publication, we introduced the team factor and the work factor through simple tables to establish the value of these factors. The tables presented are useful for establishing the ICGM or RIME index in a simplified and simple way. However, there is a more precise and complex methodology for calculating the values of the team factor and work factor. Logically, this second methodology will require a greater investment of time for its study and implementation.

To calculate the team factor and the work factor according to this second methodology, it will be necessary to study the different components that will determine the final value of the factors.

The multiplication of the following components determines the team factor:

The sum of the following components makes up the work factor (a table should be generated that associates the ranges of costs incurred with the work factor):

Due to the great difficulty and complexity involved in carrying out the study to implement the ICGM or RIME index using this second methodology, most organizations choose to implement it using the simplified methodology.

Once the two methodologies for calculating the work and team factors have been briefly explained, we are going to provide a brief guide on how to implement the ICGM or RIME methodology in an organization through 5 simple steps:

1. Formation of a committee responsible for the implementation.

First, a committee responsible for the implementation of the RIME index must be formed. The committee should include people with sufficient experience in fields such as maintenance, operations, and finance. This technical team will be responsible for determining the team factor for each of the organization’s assets.

2. Methodology

The first decision that the committee must make is the methodology that they will use to calculate the value of the team factor and the work factor. As explained in this post, the most precise and objective methodology is to calculate these factors according to the components listed above. However, this methodology will take much more time and effort. On the contrary, the simplified methodology will allow the ICGM or RIME index to be established more quickly and agilely, although the values of the team and work factors will be granted based on the experience of the committee staff.

3. Inventory

An exhaustive inventory of all the organization’s assets will be taken. This inventory must include all buildings, facilities, security systems, equipment, as well as any asset that can be maintained.

If a CMMS/EAM system is available, a good practice to have a base inventory is to extract the hierarchy of assets from the system. Subsequently, all those assets that are not within the asset hierarchy can be included in the inventory, as well as in the CMMS system itself.

4. Determination of the team factor

The committee will hold as many meetings as necessary to determine the team factor of each of the assets in the inventory. If in step 2 it has been decided to use the conventional methodology based on the calculation of the factors according to their components, they must also determine the work factor in these meetings. If, on the contrary, the simplified methodology is decided, it will use the tables presented in the post: “What is the RIME or ICGM index in maintenance?”

The tables are a guide to establish the team factor and work factor, however, they are not immovable. The committee has the power to agree on modifications to them according to technical criteria and particularities of the organization.

5. Determination of the team factor of assets not previously contemplated

Periodically, every certain time determined by the committee, a meeting will be held to determine the team factor of those assets that had not been previously contemplated.

In these meetings, it will also be assessed whether to modify the value of the team factor of an asset. This modification may be due to the fact that a team has been made redundant and is no longer so critical, to the modification of the lines, to the increase or reduction of the impact of an asset on production, etc.

I Conclusion

As you can see, the implementation of the RIME or ICGM index is simple, it only requires a small investment of time and will allow for objective management of the prioritization of the resources of the maintenance department.