by Heinz Bloch, P.E., Editor | Jan 2, 2022 | Plant Operations, Safety Matters, The Bloch Files
One of the primary responsibilities of a Reliability Professional is the detection, questioning, and resolution of repeat failure events. Human lives may be at stake (thousands of them, at that). Figure 1 is a fitting reminder that pumps were involved in...
by Heinz Bloch, P.E., Editor | Dec 12, 2021 | Plant Operations, Professional Development, The Bloch Files
Several years ago, a U.S. trade journal noted that, “Successful lean implementation needs reliable equipment to prevent disastrous consequences. Together, lean plus reliable increase production capacity, decrease downtime/maintenance spending, and maximize impact and...
by Heinz Bloch, P.E., Editor | Dec 4, 2021 | Lubrication Corner, Tech Reviews, The Bloch Files
This discussion is a continuation of one that began in a Nov. 27, 2021, article (link below) on the role that oil mist has played in protecting stored equipment for decades. Here, the focus is on a variety of advantages this technology offers in equipment preservation...
by Heinz Bloch, P.E., Editor | Nov 27, 2021 | Lubrication Corner, Tech Reviews, The Bloch Files
It has long been proven that soundly executed long-term storage protection of sensitive machinery, such as compressors and drivers, will save much money. The same holds true, of course, for general purpose machines, the bulk of these being process pumps, electric...
by Heinz Bloch, P.E., Editor | Nov 20, 2021 | Asset Management, Plant Operations, The Bloch Files
This article is a follow-up to one on choosing the right priorities (Nov. 13, 2021, see link below). To recap where we left off, Streamlined RCM (SRCM) methods include visual inspection and qualitative assessments in the field that are assigned on a daily, weekly, or...
by Heinz Bloch, P.E., Editor | Nov 15, 2021 | Asset Management, Plant Operations, The Bloch Files
This article looks at the past and asks readers if their companies have progressed from where they stood 20 or 25 years ago. In September 1999, I met with the reliability team of a Well-Known Petrochemical Company (let’s call it “WKPC”) to discuss ways of improving...
by Heinz Bloch, P.E., Editor | Nov 6, 2021 | Asset Management, Plant Operations, The Bloch Files
A few years ago, two of my former colleagues were rehired by a former employer as contract engineers for new and expansion projects in the U.S. and overseas. Although they proudly and efficiently carried out their tasks, both expressed disappointment at the gap...
by Heinz Bloch, P.E., Editor | Oct 31, 2021 | Newsletter Column, Plant Operations, The Bloch Files
In the early 1970s, personnel at large multinational oil and petrochemical company decided to send any of the site’s process pumps that needed repairs to one of several low-bidding in-town shops. Many of those enterprises were owned by company retirees and...
by Heinz Bloch, P.E., Editor | Oct 24, 2021 | Asset Management, Plant Operations, The Bloch Files
A disastrous fire in a U.S. methanol plant reminded me of the findings and recommendations published in a 2006 book on the topic of “Maximizing Machinery Uptime.” In it, Fred Geitner, my respected colleague and co-author of nine books on...
by Heinz Bloch, P.E., Editor | Oct 17, 2021 | Newsletter Column, Plant Operations, The Bloch Files
Every maintenance intervention deserves to be viewed as a potential upgrade opportunity. Therefore, I believe any process-industry facility that’s anticipating elevated throughput in the near term should incorporate equipment upgrading in its turnaround...
