by Ken Bannister, MEch (UK), CMRP, MLE, Editor | May 1, 2021 | Asset Management, Lubrication Corner
When a lubricant manufacturer decides to update or develop a new lubricant for market, it begins by developing a lubricant specification. Built around a series of industry-defined parameters, performance standards and tests, this specification becomes a lubricant’s...
by Howard Penrose, Ph.D., CMRP | May 1, 2021 | Electrical Reliability, Motors & Drives
Following publication of Mar. 21, 2021, article about the application of high-voltage testing on electric motors, at least one commenter noted that the referenced IEEE Standard 1415-2006 was administratively withdrawn on Mar. 25, 2021. A primary concern seems have...
by Heinz Bloch, P.E., Editor | Apr 28, 2021 | Asset Management, Plant Operations, The Bloch Files
A standard centrifugal pump will let you down in services handling free-flowing slurries, sludge, and fibrous materials. If used in such applications, a standard centrifugal pump may clog, become vapor-bound, or wear excessively. This is where pumps with fully...
by Jane Alexander, Managing Editor | Apr 25, 2021 | Solution Showcase
ABB, Zurich, Switzerland, has launched the HoverGuard drone, the latest addition to the company’s Ability Mobile Gas Leak Detection System. HoverGuard Ability detects, quantifies and maps leaks up to 100 meters from natural gas distribution and transmission...
by Drew Troyer, CRE, CMRP, T.A. Cook/Accenture, Editor | Apr 25, 2021 | Asset Management, Newsletter Column, RAM's Human Factor
I suspect that a large majority of readers of The RAM Review’s columns and articles are reliability engineers like me. But I also suspect many may actually be functioning, albeit unknowingly, as “unreliability engineers.” Has unreliability become an...
by Heinz Bloch, P.E., Editor | Apr 22, 2021 | Asset Management, The Bloch Files, Workforce Issues
Most readers would hesitate to disagree with the saying: “You can’t manage what you can’t measure.” I for one, however, don’t believe that all metrics presently used as key performance indicators (KPIs) make sense. As just one example, an oil refinery used...
by Randall Noon, P.E. | Apr 22, 2021 | Asset Management, Learning from Mistakes
Today’s root-cause methodologies often employ the following failure-investigation process. It’s straightforward and practical. And the failure-cause spreadsheet that results from the process will provide a convenient record-keeping document to use in...
by Ken Bannister, MEch (UK), CMRP, MLE, Editor | Apr 22, 2021 | The RAM Library Collection
This is Sanya Mathura’s first book, and it’s aimed squarely at the “Achilles Heel” of all mechanical-equipment-reliability programs: effective lubrication. TITLE:Lubrication Degradation Mechanisms – A Complete Guide AUTHOR:Sanya Mathura, MLManaging Director...
by Howard Penrose, Ph.D., CMRP | Apr 22, 2021 | Electrical Reliability, The Sustainable Plant
When determining the approach for assessing a facility, there are several decisions to make, including selection of independent software tools and guides. The U.S. Department.of Energy (USDOE, energy.gov) has developed a number of taxpayer-supported tools that review...
by Bob Williamson, CMRP, CPMM, MIAM, Editor | Apr 22, 2021 | Training & Qualification, Workforce Issues
On-job training (OJT) is the most common approach to skills development in the industrial workplace. Unfortunately, OJT is often treated as a “follow me around and you’ll pick it up” method, also known as “helper” training. This form of unstructured OJT frequently...
