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https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/27432/critical-issues-in-transportation-for-2024-and-beyond

APPROACH TO MAINTENANCE MANAGEMENT

THE BUREAU OF STREET MAINTENANCE IS ONE OF TWELVE BUREAUS WHICH MAKE UP THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS OF THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES. THE BUREAU IS RESPONSIBLE FOR FOUR MAJOR FUNCTIONS WHICH ARE ASSIGNED TO THE FOLLOWING FOUR FUNCTIONAL DIVISIONS: (1) STREET MAINTENANCE DIVISION, (2) STREET TREE DIVISION, (3) BLOCK CLEANING DIVISION AND (4) STREET USE INSPECTION DIVISION. IN ADDITION TO THE FOUR FUNCTIONAL DIVISIONS THERE IS AN EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLY DIVISION WHICH IS A SERVICE ORGANIZATION WHICH PURCHASES AND MAINTAINS EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES FOR ALL FUNCTIONAL DIVISIONS. INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING PRINCIPLES WERE APPLIED TO THE WORK OF THE STREET MAINTENANCE DIVISION UNDER CONTRACT AGREEMENT WITH A CONSULTING FIRM TO SURVEY OPERATIONS. THE FIRST ACTIVITY OF THE CONSULTING FIRM WAS TO SELECT, BY SPECIAL EXAMINATION, A GROUP OF METHODS AND STANDARDS TECHNICIANS COMPOSED OF EMPLOYEES OF THE BUREAU OF STREET MAINTENANCE. FOLLOWING THE SELECTION AND TRAINING, THE METHODS AND STANDARDS SECTION WAS ACTIVATED AND WORK STARTED. SEVENTEEN WEEKS OF STUDY INCLUDED SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS OF THE WORK ASSIGNED TO THE CREWS, THE WORK ASSIGNED TO EACH MAN IN EACH CREW, AND EACH ESSENTIAL MOVEMENT OF EVERY MAN IN THE CREW. MEASUREMENT AND TABULATION WERE MADE OF ENFORCED DELAYS, OR THE WORKING TIME, WHEN ONLY ONE OPERATION CAN BE PERFORMED AT A GIVEN TIME, AND THE BALANCE OF THE CREW MUST WAIT. CHARTS ARE PRESENTED ON DELAY AND CREW COSTS. IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT 21 FOUR-MAN CREWS BE REDUCED TO TWO-MAN CREWS. A FORM OF CONTROL WAS ESTABLISHED AND IS BEING EXTENDED TO ALL CREWS ENGAGED IN STREET MAINTENANCE WORK ON A CITY-WIDE BASIS. A SECOND CONTRACT WAS MADE WITH THE SAME MANAGEMENT FIRM TO EXTEND MANAGEMENT CONTROL COVERAGE TO THE EQUIPMENT SUPPLY DIVISION. THE FOLLOWING MECHANICAL REPAIR STANDARDS WERE DEVELOPED FOR: (1) HEAVY-DUTY EQUIPMENT AS GRADERS, SKIPLOADERS, GRADALLS, (2) TRUCKS (DUMPS, FLUSHERS, SWEEPERS, ETC.), AND STANDARDS WERE DEVELOPED TO EXTEND COVERAGE FOR TIRE REPAIR SECTION, AUTO ELECTRICIANS SECTION, SWEEPER BROOM SHOP SECTION, LUBRICATION AND PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE SECTION, MACHINE SHOP SECTION, AND ENGINE REBUILD SECTION. A THIRD CONTRACT WAS SIGNED TO EXTEND COVERAGE TO THE RESURFACING AND SPECIAL PROJECT SECTION OF THE STREET MAINTENANCE DIVISION. THIS PROGRAM WITHIN THE BUREAU HAS PRODUCED A NET LABOR SAVINGS OF $4,339,344. EMPHASIS PLACED ON MINIMUM TRAVEL MILES RESULTED IN PURCHASE OF $23,000.00 LESS GASOLINE. ALL INSTALLATIONS HAVE SHOWN SIZEABLE SAVINGS. IT IS CONCLUDED THAT IT PAYS TO ANALYZE THE WORK OF CREWS SCIENTIFICALLY, AND IN MINUTE DETAIL, BOTH AS TO SIZE OF CREW AND IN EVERY DETAIL OF THEIR WORK.

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  • Supplemental Notes:
    • Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
  • Authors:
    • Jones, L C
  • Conference:
  • Publication Date: 1968

Media Info

  • Media Type: Digital/other
  • Pagination: pp 108-116
  • Monograph Title: Maintenance Management
  • Serial:

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00218456
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
  • Created Date: Feb 10 1994 12:00AM