Smart and Sustainable eMaintenance: Capabilities for Digitalization of Maintenance

TLDR

Industry 4.0 has spurred research into eMaintenance, especially for long‑life components in mining and transport, yet the necessary capabilities for implementation remain underexplored. This study develops a framework outlining the capabilities needed for eMaintenance implementation and the outcomes of its transition. The framework was derived from an exploratory case study of 26 interviews with a digital railway maintenance company and its traffic agency customer, illustrating how real‑time diagnosis can reduce maintenance frequency. The framework identifies five key capabilities—digital technology development, organizational development, work‑routine change, regulatory compliance, and information security—and shows that eMaintenance implementation yields economic, environmental, and social benefits, including cost reductions and improved resource use.

Abstract

In the era of Industry 4.0, researchers have begun to more thoroughly examine digital maintenance, i.e., eMaintenance, as digitization is increasingly affecting today’s society. This area is particularly interesting in the case of long-life components such as those used in the mining and transport industries. With eMaintenance, the correct type of maintenance can be utilized and the frequency for device maintenance can be reduced through real-time diagnosis. This leads to reduced costs for companies that implement eMaintenance as well as environmental benefits through improved resource utilization. Advantages of eMaintenance have been described in the literature; however, the capabilities necessary to implement eMaintenance lack proper research. The purpose of this study is to develop a framework that presents the required capabilities and their connection when an organization wants to implement eMaintenance, as well as to identify the outcomes of the transition to eMaintenance. The study is based on an exploratory case study that includes 26 interviews with a digital railway maintenance development company and its main customer, the traffic agency. The study findings are presented in a framework, including five main capabilities for implementing eMaintenance and its relationship within the noted industries. The required capabilities are, namely, digital technology development, organizational development, change of work routines, compliance with regulations, and assuring information security. The framework also analyzes the outcomes of implementing digital maintenance, which demonstrate a variety of economic, environmental, and social benefits.