Overview
This unit introduces you to the importance of effective maintenance management in the industry, the costs of maintenance, and the benefits of effective maintenance planning and strategies. Emphasis is placed on practical aspects of managing maintenance for plant and equipment. You are introduced to techniques and methods for monitoring the condition of plant and equipment, and to processes used to implement and manage condition monitoring in the light of ISO55000. You will investigate maintenance management problems and prepare plans to solve such problems in context of relevant UN Sustainable Goals. The unit delineates methods for assessing maintenance effectiveness and improving maintenance management systems and provides a platform for developing skills for working and learning autonomously to solve problems, document approaches used to solve problems, and communicate professionally.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Pre-requisite: ENEG11007 Industry Project Investigation OR ENTA11014 Aircraft Structural Maintenance Practices.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2026
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from SUTE
Students are looking for enhanced learning materials.
Content-relevant short videos and case studies on industry maintenance practices for students should be made available in the unit Moodle site.
Feedback from SUTE
Overall impression of the unit delivery.
Modern industry maintenance practices, examples, case studies, and sufficient feedback on assessments for learning and other areas of delivery should be enhanced.
Feedback from SUTE
Clear and useful feedback in assessment marking.
Keep providing elaborate feedback indicating how the assessment item has lost marks, how it should be improved, and how and where they can learn more.
Feedback from SUTE
Students prefer to have clear scope of the unit in Wk 1 delivery.
A clear understanding of unit content, scope, and assessment items should be provided in the first lecture of the Term in the next offering.
- Explain the impact of maintenance on the business of industrial organisations and the need for maintenance management
- Describe processes for developing maintenance strategies and plans including explanations of costs and benefits of maintenance management
- Analyse effective techniques and methods for condition monitoring of plants and equipment professionally in the context of ISO55000
- Investigate and statistically analyse maintenance problems and develop plans to solve maintenance management problems
- Apply modern methods for assessing maintenance management effectiveness, improving maintenance systems, and controlling maintenance
- Work and learn autonomously and professionally communicate problem-solving approaches observing relevant UN SDGs.
The Learning Outcomes for this unit are linked with the Engineers Australia Stage 1 Competency Standards for Professional Engineers in the areas of 1. Knowledge and Skill Base, 2. Engineering Application Ability and 3. Professional and Personal Attributes at the following levels:
Introductory
1.5 Knowledge of engineering design practice and contextual factors impacting the engineering discipline. (LO: 1N 2N 4N 6N 7N )
3.1 Ethical conduct and professional accountability. (LO: 1N 2N 7N )
Intermediate
1.1 Comprehensive, theory-based understanding of the underpinning natural and physical sciences and the engineering fundamentals applicable to the engineering discipline. (LO: 1I 2I 3I 4I 5I 6I 7I )
1.2 Conceptual understanding of the mathematics, numerical analysis, statistics, and computer and information sciences which underpin the engineering discipline. (LO: 7I )
1.4 Discernment of knowledge development and research directions within the engineering discipline. (LO: 1I 2I 3I 4I 5I 6I 7I ) 1.6 Understanding of the scope, principles, norms, accountabilities, and bounds of sustainable engineering practice in the specific discipline. (LO: 1I 2I 3I 4I 5I 6I 7I )
2.1 Application of established engineering methods to complex engineering problem solving. (LO: 1I 2I 3I 4I 5I 6I 7I )
2.2 Fluent application of engineering techniques, tools, and resources. (LO: 1N 2N 3I 4I 5I 6I 7I )
2.3 Application of systematic engineering synthesis and design processes. (LO: 1I 2I 3I 4I 5I 6I 7I )
2.4 Application of systematic approaches to the conduct and management of engineering projects. (LO: 7I )
3.2 Effective oral and written communication in professional and lay domains. (LO: 1I 2I 4I 6I 7I ) 3.3 Creative, innovative, and pro-active demeanour. (LO: 1N 3I 4I 6I 7I )
3.4 Professional use and management of information. (LO: 1I 3I 4I 6I 7I ) 3.5 Orderly management of self, and professional conduct. (LO: 3I 6I 7I ) 3.6 Effective team membership and team leadership. (LO: 7I )
Advanced 1.3 In-depth understanding of specialist bodies of knowledge within the engineering discipline. (LO: 1I 2A 3I 4I 5I 6A 7I )
Note: LO refers to the Learning Outcome number(s) that link to the competency and the levels: N – Introductory, I – Intermediate and A - Advanced.
Refer to the Engineering Undergraduate Course Moodle site for further information on the Engineers Australia's Stage 1 Competency Standard for Professional Engineers and course level mapping informationhttps://moodle.cqu.edu.au/course/view.php?id=1511
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 20% | ||||||
| 2 - Written Assessment - 30% | ||||||
| 3 - Presentation and Written Assessment - 50% | ||||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 1 - Communication | ||||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | ||||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | ||||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | ||||||
| 5 - Team Work | ||||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | ||||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | ||||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | ||||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | ||||||
| 10 - First Nations Knowledges | ||||||
| 11 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | ||||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing styles below:
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
a.mazid@cqu.edu.au
Week 1: Introduction to maintenance
Begin Date: 09 Mar 2026Module/Topic
Module 1: Introduction to plant maintenance; Appendix 1: Terminology
Chapter
Module 1: Study guide available in unit Moodle website
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 1 Task
Part A: Project Topic Verification: prior to Friday of Week 1
Zoom lecture & Tutorial sessions
Week 2: Maintenance Organisation Strategy
Begin Date: 16 Mar 2026Module/Topic
Module 1: Introduction to Maintenance Organisation Strategies
Chapter
Module 1: Study guide (Moodle Site)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Assessment 1 Task: Part A:
Written verification of acceptance prior to the Monday of Week 2 from your lecturer.
Zoom lecture & Tutorial sessions.
Week 3: Theories of Management
Begin Date: 23 Mar 2026Module/Topic
Module 2: Theories of Maintenance Management
Chapter
Module 2: Study guide (Moodle Site)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom lecture & Tutorial sessions. Check regular announcement on unit Moodle website.
Week 4: Financial Analysis of Maintenance
Begin Date: 30 Mar 2026Module/Topic
Module 2: Financial Analysis of maintenance; Asset Life Cycle Cost Analysis
Chapter
Module 2: Study guide (Moodle Site)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom lecture & Tutorial sessions. Check regular announcement on unit Moodle website.
Week 5: Financial Analysis Techniques
Begin Date: 06 Apr 2026Module/Topic
Module 2: Financial Analysis techniques for maintenance management; Cash flow
Chapter
Module 2: Study guide (Access on Moodle Site)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom lecture & Tutorial sessions. Check regular announcement on unit Moodle website.
Assessment Task 1 (Part B): Maintenance data collection Due: Week 5 Friday (10 Apr 2026) 12:00 am AEST
Week 6: Method Study
Begin Date: 13 Apr 2026Module/Topic
Module 3: Method study technique in maintenance; Work measurement in maintenance
Chapter
Module 3: Study guide (Moodle Site)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom lecture & tutorial sessions. Check regular announcement on unit Moodle website.
Vacation Week
Begin Date: 20 Apr 2026Module/Topic
VACATION
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
NO TEACHING THIS WEEK
Week 7: Maintenance Activity Sampling and Queuing
Begin Date: 27 Apr 2026Module/Topic
Module 3: Maintenance activity sampling; Application of queuing theories
Chapter
Module 3: Study guide (Moodle Site)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom lecture & tutorial sessions. Check regular announcement on unit Moodle website.
Week 8: Maintenance Management Technique
Begin Date: 04 May 2026Module/Topic
Module 4: Maintenance Management Techniques
Chapter
Module 4: Study guide (Moodle Site)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom lecture & tutorial sessions. Check regular announcement on unit Moodle website.
Week 9: Plant Failure Analysis
Begin Date: 11 May 2026Module/Topic
Module 4: Statistical analysis of plant failure; Failure probability characteristics
Chapter
Module 4: Study guide (Moodle Site)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom lecture & tutorial sessions. Check regular announcement on unit Moodle website.
Week 10: Failure Mode Analysis
Begin Date: 18 May 2026Module/Topic
Appendix 2: Failure mode and criticality analysis (FMECA); Reliability of plant systems. Appendix 3: Weibull Analysis
Chapter
Appendices 2 and 3 : Study guide (Moodle Site)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom lecture & tutorial sessions. Check regular announcement on unit Moodle website.
Assessment Task 2: Statistical data analysis for maintenance management Due: Week 10 Friday (22 May 2026) 12:00 am AEST
Week 11: Reliability of Plant Systems
Begin Date: 25 May 2026Module/Topic
Module 5: Statistical process control; Pareto failure modelling
Chapter
Module 5: Study guide (Moodle Site)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom lecture & tutorial sessions. Check regular announcement on unit Moodle website.
Week 12: Revision
Begin Date: 01 Jun 2026Module/Topic
Revision on Module 5
Chapter
Module 5: Study guide (Moodle Site)
Events and Submissions/Topic
Zoom lecture & assignment 3 drop-in sessions.
Exam Week
Begin Date: 08 Jun 2026Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Vacation/Exam Week
Begin Date: 15 Jun 2026Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Written Assessment
Refer to the Moodle site for complete details of the assessment item. this is only a basic outline of the features relating to the assessment task. This assessment has two parts:
Part A: Project topic verification – identification of an appropriate maintenance problem currently existing in your nominated company.
Prior to Friday Week 1, you need to discuss and submit the “Identification of Maintenance Problem: Proposal Form” to your Lecturer via CQU E-mail address (a.mazid@cqu.edu.au). You should then receive written acceptance prior to Monday of Week 2 from your Lecturer regarding the appropriateness and viability of your chosen organisation and the identified maintenance problem as a focus for all assessment tasks of this unit.
Part B: Outline of Organisational Description including the existing Organisational Structure and the detailed Maintenance Problem Description.
The aim of Assessment 1 is to select one problem or opportunity within the maintenance activities of your chosen organisation that could be studied and solved using basic concepts of maintenance, maintenance principles, maintenance management theories and techniques presented in your Study Guide.
Remember your study approach should not be limited within the unit Study Guide only. You are encouraged and appreciated to study and investigate further beyond the Study Guide materials.
Your assignment document must contain appropriate descriptions, analysis, well-captioned appropriate figures, mathematical models, charts and tables supporting your assessment task. The document must be appropriately referenced and cited. Complete and submit your assignment via the Assessment Submission link available in the unit Moodle website
NOTE: Module 1 and Module 2 of your Study Guide should be supportive to complete your Assessment 1.
Week 5 Friday (10 Apr 2026) 12:00 am AEST
Week 7 Friday (1 May 2026)
Refer to the Moodle site for complete details of the Assessment Criteria sheet for Assessment 1. This is only a basic outline of the features relating to the assessment task. Each submission will be assessed for its presentation and layout, correct procedures, analysis, accuracy and appropriate referencing. The other assessment criteria are related to Analysis and Interpretation, Communication and Information Literacy. Please read carefully the details outlined in the Assessment 1 Criteria sheet before commencing the assessment item.
As you undertake the Assessment 1 ensure you address all outlined assessment criteria.
- Explain the impact of maintenance on the business of industrial organisations and the need for maintenance management
- Describe processes for developing maintenance strategies and plans including explanations of costs and benefits of maintenance management
2 Written Assessment
Develop an investigative report on the Maintenance Problem you have chosen in your Assessment 1. This report should cover in-depth problem analysis, relevant literature review, and chosen method/technique as strategies to solve the maintenance problem.
Refer to the Moodle site for complete details of the assessment item. This is only a basic outline of the features relating to the Assessment 2.
The aim of Assessment Task 2 is to discuss, in detail, your chosen maintenance problem, and to provide detailed insights into the technique/s you will adopt to address this problem. Your solution needs to focus upon concept of maintenance, theories and techniques of maintenance management, and the strategic principles presented in the Unit Study Guide.
You need to Study Module 3, Module 4 and Module 5 in your Unit Study Guide while you are preparing the assignment document. As you have already studied Module 1 and Module 2 to define your project for Assessment 1, it should be supportive in your report writing for this Assessment too.
Remember, your study approach should not be limited to unit Study Guide only. You are encouraged to study and investigate further beyond the unit materials.
An appropriately referenced and written investigative report, including required descriptions, analysis, documentation with suitable figures, charts and tables supporting your assessment goal must be submitted via the Assessment Submission link available in the unit Moodle website within the due date.
Week 10 Friday (22 May 2026) 12:00 am AEST
Week 12 Friday (5 June 2026)
Refer to the Moodle site for complete details of the Assessment Criteria sheet of Assessment 2. This is only a basic outline of the features relating to the assessment task.
Each submission will be assessed for presentation and layout, correct procedure, analysis and accuracy and appropriate referencing. The major assessment criteria are related to Analysis & Interpretation, Communication & Information Literacy. Please read carefully the details outlined in the Assessment 2 Assessment Criteria sheet before commencing the assessment item.
NOTE: As you undertake the Assessment 2 ensure you address all assessment criteria outlined.
- Describe processes for developing maintenance strategies and plans including explanations of costs and benefits of maintenance management
- Analyse effective techniques and methods for condition monitoring of plants and equipment professionally in the context of ISO55000
- Investigate and statistically analyse maintenance problems and develop plans to solve maintenance management problems
3 Presentation and Written Assessment
To complete Assessment 3 you will develop and submit three items:
1) Written Report of the assessment item (20 Marks)
2) Your Video Presentation file for the project (20 Marks), and
3) Your PowerPoint Presentation Slides (10 Marks)
Refer to the Moodle site for complete details of the Assessment 3. This is only a basic outline of the features relating to the assessment task.
You must provide detailed and appropriately referenced descriptions, diagrams, discussions and analysis to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of concepts and the processes.
The aim of Assessment 3 is to present complete solution for your project undertaken, in a cohesive and holistic form.
In investigating, analysing and finding an appropriate solution to the maintenance problem you have chosen, you need to use maintenance management techniques, theories, principles and modelling extensively (e.g. Financial Analysis/Modelling, Life Cycle Management and Cost Modelling, Work Study, Queuing Theory, Statistical Failure Analysis, Reliability/RAMS Modelling FMECA, Planned Maintenance Optimisation, Pareto Analysis, Control Charts, etc.).
Exam Week Friday (12 June 2026) 12:00 am AEST
Vacation/Exam Week Friday (19 June 2026)
Refer to the Moodle site for complete details of the Assessment Criteria sheet for Assessment 3. This is only a basic outline of the features relating to the assessment task.
Each submission will be assessed for presentation and layout, correct procedure, analysis and accuracy and appropriate referencing. The major assessment criteria are related to Analysis and Interpretation, Communication & Information Literacy. Please read carefully the details outlined in the Assessment 3 Criteria sheet before commencing the assessment item.
As you undertake the Assessment 3 ensure you address all assessment criteria outlined in the assignment document. Accurate reflection of your knowledge on Statistical Failure Analysis, Reliability/RAMS Modelling FMECA, Planned Maintenance Optimisation, Pareto Analysis, Control Charts must be demonstrated.
NOTE: As you undertake the Assessment 3 ensure you address all assessment criteria outlined.
- Analyse effective techniques and methods for condition monitoring of plants and equipment professionally in the context of ISO55000
- Investigate and statistically analyse maintenance problems and develop plans to solve maintenance management problems
- Apply modern methods for assessing maintenance management effectiveness, improving maintenance systems, and controlling maintenance
- Work and learn autonomously and professionally communicate problem-solving approaches observing relevant UN SDGs.
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
