by Bob Williamson, CMRP, CPMM, MIAM, Editor | Jan 17, 2022 | Newsletter Column, Workforce Issues
I grimace when major-newspaper editorialists beat up on manufacturing because of workers leaving, excessive job openings, and an overall decline in jobs. They’re looking at data. What do they know about how manufacturing works? And what do they really know about...
by Bob Williamson, CMRP, CPMM, MIAM, Editor | Jan 10, 2022 | Asset Management
It has been said before: All data is not created equal. In my “Dispatches From The Plant” newsletter column of Jan. 4, 2022 (see link below), I touched on the dark and bright sides of the data tsunamis flowing into (and through) plant environments...
by Bob Williamson, CMRP, CPMM, MIAM, Editor | Jan 3, 2022 | Newsletter Column, RAM Tools & Methods
Making decisions about what to improve and how to measure the rate of improvement requires a systematic use of data. But whether we’re dealing with raw data, databases, or spreadsheets, it’s important to use “the right data.” Doing so is not...
by Bob Williamson, CMRP, CPMM, MIAM, Editor | Dec 12, 2021 | Asset Management, Beyond RAM
Many readers of The RAM Review will be familiar with the old poem that begins “‘Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.” Regardless of who really wrote the original version (either Clement Clarke...
by Bob Williamson, CMRP, CPMM, MIAM, Editor | Dec 4, 2021 | Asset Management, Plant Operations
Consultants abound. There are plenty of them (us) offering a range of just about any type of assistance and services that a business might ever need. I’ve served as a consultant to hundreds of operations and thousands of individuals for more years than I care to...
by Bob Williamson, CMRP, CPMM, MIAM, Editor | Nov 29, 2021 | Newsletter Column, Plant Operations
“I’m doing the best I can, but it’s not enough. The other crew doesn’t seem to care about the equipment here. They beat it up, run it dry, don’t put things back. They don’t seem to understand that our jobs depend on taking care of it so we can take care of...
by Bob Williamson, CMRP, CPMM, MIAM, Editor | Nov 22, 2021 | Asset Management, Newsletter Column
Thinking about integrating new technologies in your manufacturing or utility systems? Beware. Equipment-performance data collection goes back to zero to build a new baseline of performance rates, points of failure, and failure modes. All too often, new tech is sold on...
by Bob Williamson, CMRP, CPMM, MIAM, Editor | Nov 15, 2021 | Newsletter Column, RAM's Human Factor
“Asset management” took on a whole new meaning in the RAM world when ISO-55001:2014 finally hit the streets. We were informed, taught, coached, and critiqued when we tried to understand it. And no wonder: The new Standard wasn’t so much about direct...
by Bob Williamson, CMRP, CPMM, MIAM, Editor | Nov 8, 2021 | Asset Management, Plant Operations
Preventive maintenance (PM) of production machinery would be a commonsense piece of cake if it weren’t for conflicting priorities. OEMs have every good intention when they outline PM requirements for their equipment. Maintenance specialists will adopt or adapt...
by Bob Williamson, CMRP, CPMM, MIAM, Editor | Oct 31, 2021 | Asset Management, Plant Operations
Continuous improvement is alive and well among businesses in today’s competitive and challenging marketplace. Some still call it by the big buzz word of the 1990s: kaizen. Many keep improving because they know it’s possible and much needed in their markets....
