Maintenance as a combination of intelligent IT systems and strategies: a literature review

This study provides a systematic review of the existing academic literature describing the key components of eMaintenance. The current literature is reviewed by utilizing a number of academic databases including Scopus, SpringerLink and ScienceDirect, and Google Search is used to find relevant academic and peer-reviewed journal articles concerning eMaintenance. The literature describes eMaintenance as an advanced maintenance strategy that takes advantage of the Internet, information and communication technologies, wireless technologies and cloud computing. eMaintenance systems are used to provide real time analyses based on real time data to offer a number of solutions and to define maintenance tasks. The collection and analysis of appropriate maintenance and process data are critical to create robust ‘maintenance intelligence’ and finally improvements in manufacturing costs, safety, environmental impact, and equipment reliability. This paper describes how the scientific discussion on eMaintenance has expanded significantly during the last decade, creating a need for an up-to-date review. As a conclusion, three research gaps in the area of eMaintenance are identified, including evaluating the benefits of eMaintenance, agreeing on a comprehensive definition, and developing tools and structures for cooperative eMaintenance.