Article:
Installation
Most
programs are supplied in a condensed form intended for sale and distribution. In order to be used, they must be 'unpacked'
and the relevant information placed correctly on the computer, taking account of variations between computers, and any customized
settings required by the user. During installation, various tests are made of system suitability, and the computer is configured to store the relevant files and any necessary settings required for that program to operate correctly.
Because the requisite
process varies for each program and each computer, many programs (including operating systems) come with a general-purpose or dedicated installer – a specialized program which automates most of the work required for their installation.
Some software is designed
to be installed simply by copying their files to the desired location, and there is no formal installation process. This is
common for Mac OS X applications and was the case, among others, of early Firefox versions (Firebird) for Windows. Operating systems also exist which don't require
installation, and can therefore be run directly from a bootable CD, DVD, or USB drive, without affecting other operating systems installed on the machine. An example is Knoppix Linux.
The term then naturally
extends to plugins, device drivers and software files which are not by themselves programs.
Maintenance, Repair and
Operations , is fixing any sort of mechanical or electrical device should it get out of order or broken (repair) as well as performing the routine actions which keep the device in working
order (maintenance) or prevent trouble from arising (preventive maintenance).
All actions which have as an
objective to retain an item in or restore it to, a state in which it can perform the required function. The actions include
the combination of all technical and corresponding administrative, managerial, and supervision actions. In telecommunication, the term maintenance has the following meanings:
1. Any activity, such as tests, measurements, replacements, adjustments and repairs,
intended to restore or retain a functional unit in a specified state in which the unit can perform its required functions.
2. [For material], All action taken to retain material in a serviceable condition or
to restore it to serviceability. It includes inspection, testing, servicing, classification as to serviceability, repair,
rebuilding, and reclamation.
3. [For material], All supply and repair action taken to keep a force in condition to
carry out its mission.
4. [For material], The routine recurring work required to keep a facility (plant, building, structure, ground facility, utility system, or other real property) in such condition that it may be continuously used, at its original or designed capacity and efficiency
for its intended purpose.
Source: from Federal Standard 1037C and from MIL-STD-188 and from the Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated Terms
Manufacturers and Industrial
Supply Companies often refer to MRO as opposed to Original Equipment Manufacture (OEM). OEM includes any activity related to the direct manufacture of goods, where MRO refers to any maintenance and repair activity
to keep a manufacturing plant running. Industrial Supply Companies can generally be sorted into two types — ones who
cater to the MRO market generally carry a broad range of items such as fasteners, conveyors, cleaning goods, plumbing, and
tools to keep a plant running. OEM supply companies generally provide a smaller range of goods in much larger quantities with
much lower prices, selling materials that will be regularly consumed in the manufacturing process to create the finished item.
MRO software
In many organizations because
of the number of devices or products that need to be maintained or the complexity of those systems, there is a need to manage
the information with software packages. This is particularly the case aerospace (e.g. airline fleets), military installation,
large plants (e.g. manufacturing, power generation, petrochemical) and ships. These software tools aim to help engineers and
technician in increasing the availability of system and reducing costs and repair times as well help to reduced material supply
time and increase material availability by improving the supplier chain communication. As MRO involves working with products,
an organization’s resources, supplier and customers, MRO packages have to interfaces in to many enterprise’s business software systems (PLM, ERP, SCM, CRM). One of the functions of such software is the configuration of bill of material, taking the components parts list from engineering (eBOM) and manufacturing (mBOM) and updating to “as delivered”
through “as maintained” to “as used”. Another is project planning logistics, for example identifying
the critical path on the list of task to be carry out (inspection, diagnose, locate/order parts and service) to calculate
turnaround times (TAT). Other tasks that software can perform:
- Planning operations
- Managing execution
of events,
- Management of asset.
Parts, tools and equipment inventories
- Knowledge base data
on:
- Maintenance service
history
- Serial numbered parts
- Reliability data
- Maintenance and Repair
documentation and best practices
- warranty, guarantee
documents
Many of these tasks are addressed
in Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS)
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