DST ASSET STRATEGY EVALUATORS

Quantify, evaluate, optimize and justify

DST modules can be used individually or in combination to evaluate what is worth doing, why and when, in managing any type of physical asset in any type of organization.

Developed as part of an international,
multi-industry collaboration program (the SALVO Project), and validated by the University of Cambridge, they enable best practices in asset management decision-making. 

They are available as stand-alone desktop-based software licenses, or as network-installed corporate multi-user systems, with scope for interfacing and embedding within existing business processes.

DST modelling and analysis can also be obtained as a service from our network of expert facilitators and consultancy partners around the world.

The toolkit comprises:

Discover how the modules combine to offer a range of solutions

DST & SALVO

Discover how DST Strategy Evaluator modules support the internationally acclaimed SALVO Process.

Scope

Life cycle cost/risk/performance evaluation of asset choices, optimal timing for asset replacement, evaluation of life extension options, obsolescence, procurement and decommissioning decisions.

Decision types enabled by this module

Existing asset life cycle decisions:

    • Should I replace my current asset(s) and, if so, when?
    • Should I refurbish my current asset, to extend its life by how much?
    • When should I upgrade a current asset to an alternative design?

 

New asset life cycle decisions:

    • Which new asset should I acquire, based on optimal life cycle cost?
    • What is the optimum life cycle and life cycle cost of a proposed new asset?

 

Embedded capabilities:

  • Comprehensive life cycle costing, risk *& reliability engineering, asset performance, degradation and financial modelling
  • Sensitivity testing to uncertain data assumptions,
  • Scenario ‘what if?’ evaluation and comparison of options, assumptions or circumstances,
  • Calculates residual risks, performance losses, operating costs and achievable life for and refurbishment, renewal or life cycle decision.
Scope

Evaluation and optimization of spares and materials inventory decisions, supply chain and purchasing strategies, operational standby and redundancy options.

  • Optimal purchasing and inventory decisions for slow-moving spares, installed redundancy and standby options.
  • Optimal purchasing and inventory management controls (e.g., min/max stock and/or purchase quantity) for materials, consumables and stock.

 

Typical decisions facilitated by this tool:

  • Should we hold a spare, and if so, how many?
  • What is the optimal purchasing strategy for this inventory item?
  • What should be the minimum and maximum inventory levels?
  • Should we hold spare whole equipment units or component part kits?
  • Which vendor or technical specification offers best value-for-money?
  • Should we pool/share spares or hold distributed/dedicated inventory?

 

Embedded capabilities:

  • Comprehensive inventory, logistics, risks and economic modelling
  • Sensitivity testing to uncertain data assumptions,
  • Scenario ‘what if?’ evaluation and comparison of options, assumptions or circumstances,
Scope

Cost/benefit/risk evaluation and optimal timing/intervals for preventive maintenance, planned corrective maintenance, performance improvement and asset life extension activities

Typical decisions enabled by this module
  • Is preventive maintenance worthwhile, and if so, at what optimal interval?
  • When should I perform planned maintenance to recover asset performance?
  • What  maintenance is worthwhile to extend asset life (e.g., painting, lubrication)?
  • What is the impact of different design or operating options upon maintenance requirements?
  • What is the value-for-money of condition monitoring?

 

Embedded capabilities:

  • Sensitivity testing to uncertain data assumptions,
  • Scenario ‘what if?’ evaluation and comparison of options, assumptions or circumstances,
  • Calculation of residual risks, performance losses, operating costs, and achievable asset life from any maintenance strategy.
Scope

Optimization of work bundling, shutdown strategies, intervals and opportunity alignments for projects, maintenance, inspections and other tasks.  Evaluation of resource, budget and other constraints upon shutdown, outage or turnaround strategies/intervals.

Typical decisions enabled by this module
  • What is the optimal bundling and timing for combinations of tasks, , to share system downtime, travel or other overheads?
  • What is the cost/risk/performance impact of constrained resources, budgets or activity timings?
  • What are the effects of delaying a project or maintenance task upon other tasks and planned shutdowns?
  • If an unplanned shutdown occurs, which activities should be performed during the opportunity?

 

Embedded capabilities:

  • Artificial intelligence (AI) identification of optimal combinations and timings of activities.
  • Scenario ‘what if?’ evaluation and comparison of options, assumptions or circumstances,
  • Calculation of total costs, risks, performance impacts, downtime, resource usage and other features of any shutdown strategy or work programme.
Scope

To evaluate cost/benefit & risk impact of any non-repeating asset intervention, project or business change. This module provides consistent business case evaluation and justification of all types of project, proposal or investment options, enabling objective comparison, ranking and prioritization of expenditures. It also helps to quantify and monetize the ‘premium’ paid for compliance with mandatory requirements and the value of ‘intangibles such as reputation, morale and social responsibility.

Typical decisions enabled by this module
  • Is a proposed project or change worthwhile, taking all costs, risks, benefits and other consequences into account?
  • What is the business case/payback for investing in safety, reputation or other intangibles?
  • Within a diverse range of projects, options and opportunities, which offer the best value for a limited budget?

Embedded capabilities:

  • Flexible discounted cashflow modelling of any asset investment, project or change, with resulting cost, risk, and performance effects.
  • Projects portfolio management, with ranking and ‘what if?’ evaluation of  constraints (e.g. resource/budget limits).
  • Configurable facilities for quantifying and evaluating cost, risk, benefit and value of any project or change.
  • Sensitivity testing to uncertain data assumptions,
  • Scenario ‘what if?’ evaluation and comparison of options, assumptions or circumstances,
  • Portfolio filtering and ranking, cashflow projections and valuation of intangibles and  constraints.
Scope

Cost/benefit/risk evaluation and optimal timing/intervals for inspections, condition assessments, asset health monitoring, predictive maintenance tasks and functional testing activities.

Typical decisions enabled by this module

Predictive maintenance/condition monitoring strategies

  • What is the optimal inspection or monitoring interval?
  • When is the next time an asset should be inspected or assessed?
  • What is the right amount of deterioration at which to set an alarm or to plan remedial action?

 

Hidden failures/functional testing strategies

  • How often shold I test my safety device (e.g fire detector or  emergency shutdown system)?
  • What is the optimal testing strategy for stand-by equipment?

 

Embedded capabilities:

  • Sensitivity testing to uncertain data assumptions,
  • Scenario ‘what if?’ evaluation and comparison of options, assumptions or circumstances,
  • Calculation of residual risks, performance losses, operating costs, and achievable asset life from any inspection or testing strategy.
Scope

DST StAMP (Strategic Asset Management Planner) is the leading-edge tool to aggregate and optimize complete programs of asset investment and other interventions that are competing for funding and resources to address conflicting objectives and within multiple constraints.

Unique flexibility, capability and real-time ‘what if?’ facilities

  • Combines individual strategies and intervention studies into a complete program of work, with full ‘drill-down’ transparency of what, why and when.
  • Uses advanced analytics and artificial intelligence (AI) engine to seek the optimal way of delivering objectives within the constraints.
  • Calculates the combined total impact of Capex, Opex, risk, performance and other business outcomes.
  • Enables real-time identification and exploitation of planning opportunities, changed priorities and intervention timings.
  • Provides rapid ‘what if?’ comparisons to explore changes, alternative strategies, uncertainties, opportunities or constraints.
  • Resulting plans and data can be exported directly for budgeting and work management processes and tools.
  • Outperforms other strategic planning methods and tools, and with greater transparency and ‘drill-down’ justification.
 
Typical decisions enabled by this module
  • How should I prioritize and plan a diverse mix of asset investments, maintenance activities and other projects?
  • What are the cost, risk and resourcing implications of my investment plan, and how can I optimise these?
  • How should I optimally adjust my plan as a result of changes in resources or budgets?

 

Embedded capabilities:

  • Flexible assembly of potential ‘workbank’ of  projects and intervention activities.
  • Artificial intelligence (AI) identification of optimal combinations and timings of activities.
  • Scenario ‘what if?’ evaluation and comparison of options, assumptions or circumstances,
  • Calculation of total costs, risks, performance impacts, downtime, resource usage and other features of any plan, programme or changes.

DST & SALVO

Discover how the DST Evaluator modules are applied alongside the internationally acclaimed SALVO Process.

Contact us

We would be happy to speak with you and learn how we can help you and your business.

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