by Bob Williamson, CMRP, CPMM, MIAM, Editor | Feb 14, 2020 | Asset Management, Plant Operations
We all face challenges in our day-to-day work—challenges that sometimes really test our skills. But we make it through fairly unscathed. OK, maybe a bit scratched up, bruised, worn out. That’s what we run into quite often in the world of industrial maintenance. Our...
by Bob Williamson, CMRP, CPMM, MIAM, Editor | Feb 8, 2020 | RAM's Human Factor, Safety Matters
“Human error” is an often-cited cause or contributing factor in accidents and failures. We routinely see this with our plant equipment. But, identifying ways to reduce or eliminate “human error” can be challenging without a structured process for indentifying and...
by Bob Williamson, CMRP, CPMM, MIAM, Editor | Feb 2, 2020 | Training & Qualification, Workforce Issues
The U.S. manufacturing sector continues to grow, even as a skills shortage persists. With the intelligent use of technologies and automation, we will continue to need many more skilled people in the manufacturing labor force. The U.S. military veterans my just be that...
by Bob Williamson, CMRP, CPMM, MIAM, Editor | Jan 24, 2020 | Plant Operations, Workforce Issues
We are well into an economic boom and a talent bust. The economy is stronger than it has been for decades. But the skilled talent needed to continue fueling that type of booming economy is in extremely short supply—shorter than it has ever been since World War II....
by Bob Williamson, CMRP, CPMM, MIAM, Editor | Jan 17, 2020 | Maintenance Management, Plant Operations
In this era of shortages in skills and labor, many small- and mid-sized businesses are turning to an ever-growing number of affordable automation technologies. But, it’s not necessarily traditional automation that’s attracting their attention. Take robotics for...
by Bob Williamson, CMRP, CPMM, MIAM, Editor | Jan 13, 2020 | Newsletter Column, RAM Tools & Methods
In the world of essential capital assets (facilities, plants, equipment, infrastructure, buildings, etc.), we must embrace the guiding principles of continuous, incremental improvement. Whether it’s discreet manufacturing, primary metals, petrochemical, foods,...
by Bob Williamson, CMRP, CPMM, MIAM, Editor | Jan 5, 2020 | Asset Management, Plant Operations
Perfection? An impossible dream? Why or why not should we be pursuing 100% reliability? Think about it. Simply stated, 100% reliability means that equipment is doing what it is supposed to do. And yes, there is a price to pay for it. But, the cost of un-reliability...
by Bob Williamson, CMRP, CPMM, MIAM, Editor | Dec 23, 2019 | Newsletter Column, Workforce Issues
“Unplanned equipment downtime and changeovers are eating up our productivity. Our equipment has to perform better, be more reliable. We need to change the way we operate around here.” When the above type of directive comes from top management, there’s no doubt...
by Bob Williamson, CMRP, CPMM, MIAM, Editor | Dec 14, 2019 | Learning from Mistakes, Plant Operations
Complaints about problem parts in plant operations seem almost endless these days. They come from all sectors and go on and on and on. Maybe you’ve heard some, or even expressed concerns of your own that are eerily similar to the following: “These bolts, right...
by Bob Williamson, CMRP, CPMM, MIAM, Editor | Dec 7, 2019 | RAM Tools & Methods, Safety Matters, Workforce Issues
“D’ya think I’m stupid? Checklists are for dummies.” “I know what I’m doing. I’ve done it for years.” “Why would I ever need a checklist?” These types of remarks sum up what, even now, is a widely held view among maintenance and reliability teams on many plant floors....
