Mean Time to Repair (MTTR)
The average repair time. One of the most important Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in maintenance, measuring the average time it takes for a failed asset to become fully operational again after a disruption.
What is MTTR?
Mean Time to Repair describes the average time span from the report of a failure to the restoration of function. It is a direct indicator of the efficiency of the maintenance organization and the reparability of equipment.
The formula is: Total repair time / Number of repairs
The real problem: Searching instead of fixing
A high MTTR value is rarely due to the technician working too slowly. Studies show that up to 70% of the repair time is unproductively wasted on:
- Troubleshooting: What exactly is broken?
- Searching for information: Where is the circuit diagram? Where is the manual?
- Searching for parts: Which spare part do I need and is it in stock?
- Knowledge gap: Who has solved this problem before? (Often this knowledge is in the head of an older colleague who is not currently available).
Reducing MTTR with Operational Intelligence
To sustainably reduce MTTR, it is not enough to work faster. You need to know faster. This is where AI-supported systems like ADAM come into play:
- Reduce Mean Time to Know (MTTK): Instead of flipping through folders, the technician asks the AI ("How do I fix error 404 on machine B?"). The answer comes in seconds.
- Contextualized data: Linking error code, solution path, and spare part availability in one view.
- Learning organization: Every successful repair is recorded via voice memo and is immediately available as solution knowledge next time.
Conclusion: A low MTTR is the most effective lever to minimize unplanned downtime costs and increase OEE.