This paper presents a case study and a model to predict maintenance interventions based on condition monitoring of diesel engine oil in urban buses by accompanying the evolution of its degradation. Many times, under normal functioning conditions, the properties of the lubricants, based on the intervals that manufacturers recommend for its change, are within normal and safety conditions. Then, if the lubricants’ oil condition is adequately accompanied, until reaching the degradation limits, the intervals of oil replacement can be enlarged, meaning that the buses’ availability increases, as well as their corresponding production time. Based on this assumption, a mathematical model to follow and to manage the oil condition is presented, in order to predict the next intervention with the maximum time between them, which means the maximum availability.

The purpose of this study was to apply new methods of econometric models to the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of physical assets, by integrating investments such as maintenance, technology, sustainability, and technological upgrades, and to propose a means to evaluate the Life Cycle Investment (LCI), with emphasis on sustainability. Sustainability is a recurrent theme of existing studies and will be a concern in coming decades. As a result, equipment with a smaller environmental footprint is being continually developed. This paper presents a method to evaluate asset depreciation with an emphasis on the maintenance investment, technology depreciation, sustainability depreciation, and technological upgrade investment. To demonstrate the value added of the proposed model, it was compared with existing models that do not take the previously mentioned aspects into consideration. The econometric model is consistent with asset life cycle plans as part of the Strategic Asset Management Plan of the Asset Management System. It is clearly demonstrated that the proposed approach is new and the results are conclusive, as demonstrated by the presented models and their results. This research aims to introduce new methods that integrate the factors of technology upgrades and sustainability for the evaluation of assets’ LCA and replacement time. Despite the increase in investment in technology upgrades and sustainability, the results of the Integrated Life Cycle Assessment First Method (ILCAM1), which represents an improved approach for the analyzed data, show that the asset life is extended, thus increasing sustainability and promoting the circular economy. By comparison, the Integrated Life Cycle Investment Assessment Method (ILCIAM) shows improved results due to the investment in technology upgrades and sustainability. Therefore, this study presents an integrated approach that may offer a valid tool for decision makers.

The purpose of this paper is to propose a tool to measure the performance of a Strategic Asset Management Plan (SAMP) based on a Balanced Scorecard (BSC). The SAMP converts organizational objectives into asset management objectives, as well as specifies the role of the asset management system, providing support to achieve asset management objectives. The SAMP becomes the heart of the organization and integrates the long-term, medium-term, and short-term plans. In the SAMP, the balance among performance, costs, and risks are taken into consideration in order to achieve the organization’s objectives. On the other hand, the SAMP is a guide to set the asset management objectives while describing the role of the Asset Management System (AMS) in meeting these objectives. Since the SAMP is the central figure of AMS, it is important to measure its performance and should be built and improved through an iterative process. This indicates that it is not just a document, it is “the document” that should be treated as a “living being”, which needs to adapt to internal and external changes quickly. The BSC is an excellent tool where, through the appropriate Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), the progress can be measured, and is supported by four perspectives: Financial, Customer, Internal Business Process, and Learning and Growth.

The paper demonstrates the dependence of a fleet reserve of buses on the maintenance policy of the whole fleet, in particular, condition-based maintenance using a motor oil degradation analysis. The paper discusses an approach to evaluate the oil degradation and the prediction of the next value for one relevant oil variable. The methodology to evaluate the reserve fleet is based on bus availability, estimated through the mean time between failures and the mean time to repair ratios. Through the use of econometric models, it is possible to determine the most rational size of the reserve fleet.