Life-cycle cost analysis can provide a solid basis to support improvements in how fleet managers use their vehicles and in how manufactures design them.
The challenge to it be an established practice rests on getting quality data provided by fleet operators and on the understanding that the data is significantly influenced by both the operational environment and the quality of management (operations and maintenance).
In 2012, a benchmark study was conducted using the public transportation system of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. Twelve companies participated in the study.
Although the primary purpose of the study was to assess the differences in the competitiveness among the twelve companies, the data collected provide a database that was very consistent in providing critical analysis of vehicle maintainability by generating life-cycle cost analysis. The study proved to be an important tool to link vehicle design to the operational and maintenance management of company fleets.
Beyond reporting the results, this paper aims to present some analytical perspectives that can be applied to life-cycle cost analysis in fleets.
It intends to presents evaluation mechanisms to consolidate this analytical method as a tool that will be capable of providing better guidance to the management of fleet companies and providing better maintainability parameters to vehicle manufacturers.
Life-cycle analysis will provide a baseline to establish improvements for the quality of vehicle utilization, after-sales service and the overall maintainability characteristics of vehicles. These parameters can establish a new point of view on the relationship between vehicle manufacturers and fleet operators.