3. Our Asset Management Framework

3. Our Asset Management Framework

Our Asset Management framework is based on best practice in the roads sector and comprises the range of activities and functions required to deliver a world class service.

We are constantly looking to improve our approach and are seeking accreditation with the International Standard ISO 55000.

Our Asset Management Framework defines all the activities and processes necessary to develop, document, implement and continually improve our asset management regime. The four main aspects of the Framework are summarised here, with each element described in more detail within the RAMP.

Context

Asset Management is influenced by several factors. These include the boundaries and scope of legal requirements and the objectives of the Scottish Government and Transport Scotland. In addition, our stakeholders have expectations of the trunk road network, and management of these is an important part of our asset management regime. Funding is also a crucial factor in our approach to asset management, as we seek to maximise the effectiveness of investment. Together, these factors dictate the activities of the asset management regime.

Planning

Planning is crucial for effective asset management and we demonstrate this through our Policy, which shows a leadership commitment to asset management, and this Strategy. Planning also comprises our other key asset management processes, such as Performance Management (see Chapter 4) and our approach to long-term planning for asset maintenance and investment to maximise the benefits to road users. These set out when planned maintenance is predicted to be required, the likely investment needs at this stage, and how these requirements are prioritised. Combined, each of these elements are our long-, medium- and short-term approach to asset planning.

Our Enablers

Enablers are the series of activities that implement our Asset Management Framework. They provide a means of developing organisational leadership and the adoption of an asset management culture to ensure that our approach is understood and embedded by our staff and our supply chain (see Chapter 7). Our approach to managing risk ensures that potential barriers to the delivery of the Asset Management Framework are controlled proportionately. The use of asset management systems and the data they contain (see Chapter 6) allow us to understand the performance of our assets, procedures, and practices and subsequently support our decision making process. This is achieved through ongoing detailed performance monitoring (see Chapter 4) and benchmarking to ensure that improvement actions and continuous enhancements are focused to achieve real outcomes. The collection of all these processes create an effective set of enablers to our asset management framework.

Delivery

Delivery is a key component of our asset management framework and is a culmination of the context, planning and enablers. Most of our asset management processes have been embedded into and are delivered through our Operating Company Contracts. We have established a range of objectives and measures which define how we expect our supply chain to focus their activities on delivering success for customers. We regularly take the opportunity to review these objectives to ensure continued alignment with the context of the Framework.