by Heinz Bloch, P.E., Editor | May 28, 2021 | Asset Management, Plant Operations, The Bloch Files
When the bid invitations for a major petrochemical facility were sent to several pump manufacturers some 45 years ago (in 1976), not all bothered to reply. The three that did, though, pointed out that they could not accept warranty responsibilities for the several...
by Bob Williamson, CMRP, CPMM, MIAM, Editor | May 23, 2021 | Training & Qualification, Workforce Issues
My recent series of discussions in The RAM Review (see links below) have focused on the topic of workforce-development strategies and planning. As I’ve mentioned before, workforce development is not merely training. In this article, I discuss how competency building...
by Drew Troyer, CRE, CMRP, T.A. Cook/Accenture, Editor | May 23, 2021 | Asset Management, Newsletter Column, Plant Operations
Humans are funny. One might assume that the big prize of increased profits and safer, more environmentally-responsible operations would motivate enterprises to adopt the practices of high-reliability organizations. That, however, is rarely the case. It turns out that...
by Howard Penrose, Ph.D., CMRP | May 22, 2021 | Electrical Reliability, RAM Tools & Methods
In their ground-breaking 1978 report for the U.S. Military titled, “Reliability-Centered Maintenance,” Fred Nowlan and Howard Heap discussed what was to become known as the “P-F Curve,” as well as how to use it to select optimal testing...
by Ken Bannister, MEch (UK), CMRP, MLE, Editor | May 22, 2021 | Plant Operations, RAM Tools & Methods
Have you ever wanted to implement a maintenance improvement program or project, only to have it voted down or shelved by management? Sadly, many great ideas, even if they make great economic sense, never receive sponsorship unless presented to management in the...
by Heinz Bloch, P.E., Editor | May 22, 2021 | Asset Management, Tech Reviews, The Bloch Files
The main function of reciprocating compressor valves is to control flow in and out of a compressor’s cylinders. Valves are critically important components in that their functional integrity usually governs the availability, reliability, and efficiency of...
by T.A. Cook, Part of Accenture | May 22, 2021 | SPONSORED INFORMATION
From Massimiliano Giffuni Reliability and Maintenance Specialist T.A. Cook (tacook.com) In the process industry, static equipment represents the vast majority of mechanical assets at a manufacturing site. Most of these assets were designed for a roughly 20-year...
by Ken Bannister, MEch (UK), CMRP, MLE, Editor | May 16, 2021 | Newsletter Column, RAM Tools & Methods
For many years, the all-purpose tool was well represented by the Swiss army knife. In time, favor turned to the Leatherman multi-tool and its many facsimiles. Although these previous-generation items are still useful, they pale in comparison to today’s...
by Jane Alexander, Managing Editor | May 16, 2021 | Solution Showcase
ABB, Zurich, Switzerland, has incorporated power supply through Ethernet connectivity on board the latest editions of its ProcessMaster electromagnetic flowmeter (Fig. 1, shown above), and CoriolisMaster mass flowmeter (Fig. 2, shown below). According to the...
by Drew Troyer, CRE, CMRP, T.A. Cook/Accenture, Editor | May 15, 2021 | Asset Management, Plant Operations, RAM Tools & Methods
In my last article for The RAM Review (May 8, 2021), I focused on the important role metrics play in driving behaviors in a plant (see link below) I want to carry on with that theme this week to discuss mean time between failure (MTBF), mean time to failure (MTTF),...
