Abstract:
The machine tools over the ages has been found and proven to be known as a modern
instrument in manufacturing due to ever increasing demand for its usage and they formed
the basis for industrial development. The remarkable dynamism in machine tools
maintenance development requires an evaluation based on usage or utilization level, and
this will help determining the scope of job, and the best maintenance practice in machine
tools workshops. The indicators that were considered paramount for the evaluation and
assessment included labour versatility (age, sex, and experience), number of breakdown,
maintenance hours, available machine hours, machine functionality; and level of
maintenance skill acquisition. Fifty structured questionnaires were administered among
some machine tools workshop in Nigeria to collect data on the indicators stated.
Maintainability and availability were determined using modified convectional maintenance
ratios to include salient maintenance resources (manpower, material and tools). The new
model was applied to the identified machine tools, namely; lathe, milling, boring and
drilling machines. The results generally showed that the availability and maintainability of
the machine tools in the shops were generally lower (about 50%) and (54%) respectively
than the expected (not less than 70%). These shortfalls are attributed to inadequate
experience and capability of personnel involved in maintenance activities. Findings
showed the need for training of personnel on the emerging maintenance techniques
