Vol. 1 No. 1 (2007)

View Issue TOC

Randomised Field Trial of a Diagnostic Framework for Maintenance Regime Adoption in Tanzanian Transport Depots

Juma Mwakapenda, Ardhi University, Dar es Salaam Neema Mwambene, Department of Civil Engineering, Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (COSTECH)
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18966536
Published: January 21, 2007

Abstract

{ "background": "Maintenance regime adoption in transport depots is critical for infrastructure longevity, yet diagnostic frameworks to guide implementation are often not empirically validated in low-resource settings. There is a lack of robust field evidence on the efficacy of structured diagnostic tools in improving maintenance practices within such contexts.", "purpose and objectives": "This study aimed to evaluate, through a randomised field trial, the adoption rate of a novel diagnostic framework designed to guide maintenance regime selection in transport depots. The primary objective was to quantify the framework's effect on the implementation of scheduled maintenance protocols.", "methodology": "A randomised controlled trial was conducted across multiple transport depots. Depots were randomly assigned to an intervention group, which utilised the diagnostic framework, or a control group, which continued with existing practice. Adoption was measured via a composite score of maintenance procedure adherence. The effect was estimated using a linear regression model: $Yi = \\beta0 + \\beta1 Ti + \\epsiloni$, where $Yi$ is the adoption score, $T_i$ is the treatment indicator, and robust standard errors were clustered at the depot level.", "findings": "Depots using the diagnostic framework demonstrated a statistically significant increase in adoption scores. The estimated treatment effect was 18.7 percentage points (95% CI: 12.3 to 25.1). Thematic analysis of implementation logs identified resource allocation planning as the most frequently activated component of the framework.", "conclusion": "The diagnostic framework is an effective tool for improving the structured adoption of maintenance regimes in resource-constrained depot environments. Its systematic approach addresses key barriers to implementation.", "recommendations": "Transport authorities should integrate the diagnostic framework into depot management protocols. Further research should investigate long-term impacts on asset life-cycle costs and operational downtime.", "key words": "maintenance management, randomised trial, infrastructure, asset management, implementation science", "contribution statement": "This paper provides the first experimental evidence for a structured diagnostic tool to improve maintenance adoption

Full Text:

Read the Full Article

The HTML galley is loaded below for inline reading and better discovery.

How to Cite

Juma Mwakapenda, Neema Mwambene (2007). Randomised Field Trial of a Diagnostic Framework for Maintenance Regime Adoption in Tanzanian Transport Depots. African Civil Engineering Journal, Vol. 1 No. 1 (2007). https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18966536

Keywords

Randomised controlled trialMaintenance regimesTransport depotsSub-Saharan AfricaDiagnostic frameworkImplementation scienceAsset management

Research Snapshot

Desktop reading view
Language
EN
Formats
HTML + PDF
Publication Track
Vol. 1 No. 1 (2007)
Current Journal
African Civil Engineering Journal

References