[AlfaVeloce]

I am working on a Masters Degree in Engineering through Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey. I currently own my 6th Alfa, this one a 1979 Spider in need of a total restoration. So, I'm a glutton for punishment, obviously.

The latest course I am taking is Design for System Reliability, Maintainability, and Supportability. For my class project, I am going to try to develop a Reliability Centered Maintenance Program (RCM) for the Alfa Romeo Spider. I am particularly interested in the Series 2 Spiders (1970-1982), but I would be happy to receive data for any model.

An RCM program takes actual data from maintenance actions and is used to build a model that will predict when future maintenance will be expected, or when preventive maintenance should be scheduled.

If you are a record keeper, I would sincerely appreciate a copy of your maintenance logs. These can be in the form of word processor documents, .pdf files scanned or converted, jpeg scans, what have you.

I have data from my own experiences but I have to have a broader cross section of experience for my professor to accept the work. I will make the report available to any forum member who thinks it would be helpful or interesting. My paper is due in on Feb 22, 2008. To be included I need your input by the end of January, or first week of February. If anyone can help I'd appreciate it!

 

[Racer Rog]

A smile

is on my face as I read your thread, I would loved to have your Professor beside me for all of the years I have been involved in things mechanical, 10 years at sea, and I never saw a RCM schedule work once, and 20 odd years in the heavy equipment industry, they never work, I think the only industry it does work is, Aviation, where most parts are lifed, and are thrown out after a certain number of hours, even if its OK, and thats why it costs a arm and a leg to fly, but at 30,000 feet, a parts failure makes it a bit late in the day to grow feathers and learn to fly, so what happens in the real world, very much depends on the line of credit your client has at the bank, and another thing to tell the Professor " those that can, do, those that can't, teach" but make sure he marks your paper first.
Roger

 

[AlfaVeloce]

Hi Roger,
it is what it is, you know. Coincidently, I work in aviation. My job is to keep museum pieces airworthy. The classic Alfa's are not much different except if they fail, you can always climb out and walk. With both my airplanes and my Alfa, they are way up the curve on the end of life side of the bathtub curve. But we are not getting new ones of either, at least not in the States (until maybe next year), and we love them so, so we keep 'em flying and rolling. Maybe it will be of help to someone, and it certainly will be useful for a grade for me! The goal the professor has set is to do a good enough job to show understanding of the concept. I think I can pull that off. All I need is data from the community. I hope several more will come forward to help me.