Prioritization of Work – NUCREC Method

Effective prioritization of maintenance works is crucial not only for optimizing the use of labor but also for ensuring the seamless operations of an organization. It is the cornerstone of a successful maintenance strategy, allowing teams to focus their efforts on critical tasks and manage their workload efficiently.

The term 'Priority' signifies the degree of importance or precedence given to a task relative to others. According to the Oxford Dictionary, priority is defined as "The fact or condition of being regarded or treated as more important." Similarly, the Franklin Dictionary describes it as "coming before in time, order, or importance."

In the realm of maintenance management, prioritizing work requires a keen understanding of each task's impact on the overall functioning and profitability of the organization. This includes considering the consequences of postponing the work. 

Precise and accurate prioritization enables better maintenance planning & scheduling, and execution of maintenance activities, leading to heightened efficiency.

To systematically assess and rank maintenance requests, we introduce the NUCREC Method—a three-dimensional approach that incorporates Need Urgency, Customer Rank, and Equipment Criticality.

Need Urgency Ratings:

1. Emergency: Immediate action needed due to safety hazards or potential for further damage; immediate attention required for unsatisfactory past work.
2. Downtime: Production halt or revenue loss due to facility or equipment failure.
3. Routine and Preventative: Scheduled maintenance activities to prevent future issues.
4. Non-Essential: Cosmetic or non-critical tasks that can be scheduled at convenience.

Customer Rank Ratings:

1. Critical Stakeholders: Top management and decision-makers.
2. Revenue-Generating Operations: Production lines and direct revenue-driving activities.
3. Supportive Operations: Middle management, R&D operations, and frequent customer interactions.
4. Peripheral Interactions: Departments or tasks with indirect impact on the core operations.

Equipment Criticality Ratings:

1. Vital Systems: Utilities and safety systems with widescale implications.
2. Key Equipment: Essential equipment or facilities lacking redundancy.
3. Employee Impact: Assets directly affecting employee morale and productivity.
4. Minor Significance: Equipment with minimal use or impact on overall output.

Priority Calculation:

We calculate the priority level of a task using the formula:

Priority = (Need Urgency) x (Customer Rank) x (Equipment Criticality)

By multiplying the individual ratings, we derive a numerical score ranging from 1 (1x1x1), symbolizing an utmost emergency, to 64 (4x4x4), indicating the lowest urgency. Tasks with lower scores are given higher priority. In cases where multiple requests yield the same score, other factors such as labor and material availability, logistics, and scheduling considerations come into play to determine the sequence of operations.

Implementing the NUCREC Method with our meticulously designed Custom Web Application & Excel Templates can transform your maintenance management processes, enabling you to execute tasks based on strategic prioritization. This intuitive approach ensures that you can address the most significant maintenance needs swiftly, maintain productivity, and foster a high-functioning workplace.

Reference : Maintenance Fundamentals (Plant Engineering), by R. Keith Mobley