Outsourcing of Maintenance Activities In oil industry of Iran Benefits, Risks and Success Factors

Outsourcing some maintenance functions or the entire maintenance of specific equipment is one of the options available to maintenance managers in managing their department more effectively. Organizations may expect to achieve many different benefits through successful maintenance outsourcing, although there are significant risks that may be realized if outsourcing is not successful. The purpose of this study is to provide a structured review of the vast amount of outsourcing literature that has accumulated in the past decade using a decision support framework. The contents of more than 60 publications are analyzed using a variety of approaches. A decision support framework is used to first classify whether the studies address outsourcing benefits and risks. Next, each classification is further described by the type of benefits, risks, etc. This research project assessed numerous benefits and risks associated with maintenance outsourcing and also the role that proper relationship management plays in ensuring that a correctly established outsourced maintenance relationship stays on the path to success, and remains a win-win encounter for both parties. One of the most successful outsourcing services in the oil industry NISOC are outsourcing maintenance that have been granted to the South Turbine Engineering Services and Equipment Co. Research has shown that relationship management has a large impact on the success of maintenance outsourcing. Several factors should be considered in establishing an outsourced maintenance relationship with the potential for long-term success. This paper also discusses the results of an investigation into the role of relationship management in the success of maintenance outsourcing by users of production facilities. The results of a survey in the oil industry of Iran (NISOC) reveal a strong correlation between successful outsourced maintenance and proper on-going management of the outsourcing relationship.