by Ken Bannister, MEch (UK), CMRP, MLE, Editor | Apr 11, 2021 | Asset Management, RAM Tools & Methods
Working with clients to design and implement improved maintenance models, I have found it important to interview those working in a site’s maintenance department to understand how they see themselves. It’s just as important, however, if not more so, to...
by Ken Bannister, MEch (UK), CMRP, MLE, Editor | Apr 3, 2021 | Asset Management, RAM Tools & Methods
Albert Einstein may have said it best: “In the midst of every crisis lies great opportunity.” Those words have special meaning in industry today. As with all catastrophic events, the 2020/21 COVID 19 pandemic has demonstrated, once again, how unprepared...
by Heinz Bloch, P.E., Editor | Apr 3, 2021 | Asset Management, Plant Operations, The Bloch Files
It is not the purpose, nor within the scope of this article to give detailed field erection and installation specifications for the many rotating machines found in modern process industry. However, field erection and installation specifications are not left to chance...
by Ken Bannister, MEch (UK), CMRP, MLE, Editor | Mar 29, 2021 | Asset Management, Newsletter Column
If asked where a maintenance-improvement program should focus its initial efforts within your organization, how would you respond? If you answer, “understand and improve our stakeholder and partner relationships,” you have truly grasped the holistic, or universal key...
by Drew Troyer, CRE, CMRP, Editor | Mar 28, 2021 | Asset Management, RAM Tools & Methods
The first article in this short series on precision parts (March 21, 2021) discussed the topic of designing for reliability (see link below). Here in Part II, the focus is on the rebuild process. Figure 1 illustrates the process flow I recommend for management...
by Howard Penrose, Ph.D., CMRP | Mar 27, 2021 | Asset Management, Safety Matters
The move toward digital transformation throughout industry is clearly important. Yet, except in the IT departments of many plants and facilities, there still seems to be enormous misunderstanding as to which physical assets and systems at sites should be considered...
by Drew Troyer, CRE, CMRP, Editor | Mar 21, 2021 | Asset Management, RAM Tools & Methods
Executing precision maintenance work requires a combination of skills, effective work instructions and methods, correct and properly calibrated tools, and, of course, the right parts that are in the right condition. Yet, when conducting failure investigations and...
by Ken Bannister, MEch (UK), CMRP, MLE, Editor | Mar 21, 2021 | Asset Management, Lubrication Corner
When it comes to fleet and generator maintenance, nothing has a bigger impact on engine-life cycle than a simple oil and filter change. Yet, as straightforward as an oil change sounds, effectiveness is only assured by using the correct lubricant viscosity. If you own,...
by Heinz Bloch, P.E., Editor | Mar 12, 2021 | Asset Management, The Bloch Files
Angular contact ball bearings are used in millions of pumps and many other fluid machines. The rolling elements in these bearings are separated by cages. The main function of those cages is to maintain equal distances from ball to ball and to do so with minimum...
by Bob Williamson, CMRP, CPMM, MIAM, Editor | Mar 7, 2021 | Asset Management, RAM's Human Factor
Making equipment reliable is more than an engineering project. More than precision maintenance. More than good data. And much more than many organizations consider at the onset. Reliability improvement requires many factors, elements, actions, and individual skill...
