by Howard Penrose, Ph.D., CMRP | May 15, 2021 | Plant Operations, The Sustainable Plant
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, over 4,760 trillion Btu of steam energy represents 40% of the total energy used in industrial process applications. The efficiency of steam production by fuel ranges from 85.7% efficiency (natural gas) to 90.3% (coal) with...
by Bob Williamson, CMRP, CPMM, MIAM, Editor | May 15, 2021 | Training & Qualification, Workforce Issues
This article is the third in a series of discussions (see links below) on workforce development in the post-pandemic era. Some key points from the previous two installments include the fact that, going forward, industrial operations will need to include a focus on the...
by Heinz Bloch, P.E., Editor | May 14, 2021 | Asset Management, RAM Tools & Methods, The Bloch Files
In my April 22, 2021, article for The RAM Review, I wrote about KPIs (Key Performance Indicators), noting that not all of them make sense (see link below). One such example dates back several few years, when I sat down with a competent machinery-reliability...
by Jane Alexander, Managing Editor | May 9, 2021 | Solution Showcase
According to Fluke Process Instruments, Everette, WA, the company’s recently introduced MP Linescanner Series provides continuous, accurate, edge-to-edge thermal images and temperature measurements for today’s high-speed manufacturing processes, even those...
by Heinz Bloch, P.E., Editor | May 9, 2021 | Newsletter Column, Plant Operations, The Bloch Files
Context is crucial when you’re providing, receiving, or understanding information. Consider the following process-industry examples. While we’ve touched on them in past articles and presentations over the years, they reflect how the true picture of an...
by Drew Troyer, CRE, CMRP, T.A. Cook/Accenture, Editor | May 8, 2021 | Asset Management, Plant Operations, RAM Tools & Methods
We’ve all heard the adage “what gets measured gets done.” To be more precise, however, what gets measured gets rewarded, and what gets rewarded gets done. In the April 18, 2021, issue of The RAM Review, I asked this question: “Are you seeking reliability, yet...
by Jim Seffrin, CMRP | May 8, 2021 | IR Thermography, RAM Tools & Methods
With tremendous emphasis placed upon the sophistication of today’s thermal imagers, it could be easy for thermographers to forget the basics of the craft. Regardless of imager age or sophistication, there are several basic concepts that can vastly increase...
by Bob Williamson, CMRP, CPMM, MIAM, Editor | May 8, 2021 | Training & Qualification, Workforce Issues
This article is the second piece in a series of discussions on workforce development in the post-pandemic era. To re-cap the first installment: Since workforce issues have plagued many industry sectors for years, some for decades, our “new normal” must...
by Howard Penrose, Ph.D., CMRP | May 7, 2021 | Plant Operations, The Sustainable Plant
When it comes to a production operation, energy, process, reliability, and waste stream aren’t stand-alone elements. And they really don’t differ much from one another. In fact, the results associated with improving or ignoring each of these areas are...
by Bob Williamson, CMRP, CPMM, MIAM, Editor | May 2, 2021 | Newsletter Column, Plant Operations, Training & Qualification, Workforce Issues
This column kicks off a new series of discussions in The RAM Review on workforce development in the post-pandemic era. Because workforce issues have plagued many industry sectors for years, some for decades, the “new normal” we’re in must include a...
