RELIABILITY-CENTERED MAINTENANCE OF A BAND SAW MACHINE IN A TIMBER PROCESSING PLANT: A CASE STUDY ISEYIN SAW MILL

ABSTRACT Machine reliability and optimized maintenance practices are critical in timber processing plants where continuous operation of equipment such as band saw machines is required. Frequent breakdowns, blade wear, bearing failure, and misalignment reduce production efficiency, increase maintenance costs, and pose safety risks. This study applied a Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM) framework to identify critical failure modes, assess their consequences, and develop a maintenance plan to improve machine performance. Data were collected from maintenance logs, operator interviews, direct observations, and condition monitoring, including vibration, temperature, and noise measurements. Analysis was conducted using Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) to calculate Risk Priority Numbers (RPN) for components. Results showed that bearings had the highest RPN (252), followed by blade guides (192) and saw blades (189), indicating that these components require prioritized maintenance. Condition monitoring confirmed early signs of wear and overheating, validating the FMEA results. An RCM-based maintenance plan combining preventive and condition-based tasks was proposed, projecting a downtime reduction of approximately 42%. The study concludes that implementing RCM enhances equipment reliability, reduces maintenance costs, and ensures operational efficiency. The framework can be adapted to other sawmill machinery and similar industrial systems for improved productivity and machine longevity. Keywords: Band Saw, Condition Monitoring Downtime, FMEA, Maintenance, Reliability-Centered, Timber Processing,