Whenever we see the acronym “RAM” used here, most of us know that “R” stands for “Reliability” and “M” stands for “Maintenance.” But, while the letter “A” in the acronym formally stands for “Availability,” to some of us, it also serves as a reminder that reliable machines benefit greatly from “Access” to the top manager and “Access” to parts of fluid machines.
So then, “access” (or “accessibility”) may mean different things to different folks. Even with more detailed explanations, definitions given to one person may not generate the same understanding in others.
Access to machines was often inadequate when packaged standardized units were purchased. As but one example, packaged water treatment skids may have required removal of a vessel to gain proper access to a pump. At best-in-class companies (BiCs), such access issues were addressed and resolved decades ago in PMT meetings. These companies realized that plant reliability is influenced not only by the quality of a technical person’s input (with “T” representing the technical job function) but that process-operations personnel (the “P’ in PMT) must contribute as well. The third job function (“M”) consisted of the maintenance-mechanical workforce. In view of these obvious facts, BiCs instituted mandatory PMT (Process-Mechanical-Technical) collaboration. (Editor’s Note: PMT-related successes are further highlighted in the author’s 2016 book, Petrochemical Machinery Insights. See link to PDF list below.)
Before a major specification is released, before in-plant modifications are implemented, before a decision is made to replace a particular machine with one in kind—in all of these instances and hundreds more, a weekly one-hour meeting allowed subject matter experts (SMEs) and responsible managers in these three job functions to be briefed. A designated PMT representative had to sign off on a simple form and if there was no consensus, the plant manager was asked to assist before the one-hour meeting could be adjourned.
Having access to the plant manager at BiCs was reassuring; however, exercising one’s access option was about as undesirable as being struck with leprosy. The various PMT representatives learned to be problem solvers, not problem-listing scribes.TRR
Editor’s Note: Click Here To Download An Updated (April 2020) List Of Heinz Bloch’s 22 Books
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Heinz Bloch’s long professional career included assignments as Exxon Chemical’s Regional Machinery Specialist for the United States. A recognized subject-matter-expert on plant equipment and failure avoidance, he is the author of numerous books and articles, and continues to present at technical conferences around the world. Bloch holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering and is an ASME Life Fellow. These days, he’s based near Houston, TX. Email him directly at [email protected].
