by Howard Penrose, Ph.D., CMRP | Mar 7, 2020 | Electrical Reliability, Maintenance Management, Motors & Drives
In this first part of a new series on electric motor systems, we’ll review the reliability of such systems. Let’s start by considering one the most-asked questions associated with the topic: “How long should the motor last?” While there are standards that...
by Ken Bannister, MEch (UK), CMRP, MLE, Editor | Feb 14, 2020 | Lubrication Corner, Maintenance Management
There are few definitive studies on rolling-element bearing reliability /life that are based on industry uses and working conditions. There are, however, many claims that indicate the vast majority of such bearings never achieve their engineered-life rating (some...
by Heinz Bloch, P.E., Editor | Feb 3, 2020 | Maintenance Management, Newsletter Column, The Bloch Files
Perhaps you, too, have seen a storeroom packed full of startup spares (usually two wear parts or parts that, in the past, failed due to “random coincidence”). In any event, “random coincidence” is how my car dealer’s service manager explained things...
by Drew Troyer, CRE, CMRP, T.A. Cook/Accenture, Editor | Feb 1, 2020 | Cut the FLAB, Maintenance Management
Several of the optimum reference states (ORS) that I defined for precision maintenance in a Dec. 22, 2019, article relate to getting threaded fasteners, i.e., nuts and bolts, tight without stripping them. Proper tensioning of threaded fasteners is critical to our...
by Drew Troyer, CRE, CMRP, T.A. Cook/Accenture, Editor | Jan 18, 2020 | Maintenance Management, The Sustainable Plant
Continuing with my “Reliability Resolution 2020” theme on TheRAMReview.com, this final installment of a three-part series brings together the machine-life-extension benefits described in the first series installment (Jan. 4, 2020) with the energy-savings...
by Bob Williamson, CMRP, CPMM, MIAM, Editor | Jan 17, 2020 | Maintenance Management, Plant Operations
In this era of shortages in skills and labor, many small- and mid-sized businesses are turning to an ever-growing number of affordable automation technologies. But, it’s not necessarily traditional automation that’s attracting their attention. Take robotics for...
by Drew Troyer, CRE, CMRP, T.A. Cook/Accenture, Editor | Jan 11, 2020 | Maintenance Management, Plant Reliability in Dollars and $ense, RAM Tools & Methods, The Sustainable Plant
Continuing with this “Reliability Resolution 2020” series focusing on precision maintenance, I am expanding upon the theme developed in the first installment (posted on TheRamReview.com, Jan. 4, 2020). In that article, I challenged readers to evaluate the measurable...
by Drew Troyer, CRE, CMRP, T.A. Cook/Accenture, Editor | Jan 4, 2020 | Cut the FLAB, Maintenance Management, Plant Reliability in Dollars and $ense, RAM Tools & Methods, The Sustainable Plant
Happy New Year! It’s the time when we tend to reflect on the past year and resolve to make changes that will make this year even better. It’s particularly beguiling that this is the year “2020”—which is the term that optometrists and ophthalmologists use...
by Drew Troyer, CRE, CMRP, T.A. Cook/Accenture, Editor | Dec 22, 2019 | Cut the FLAB, Maintenance Management, RAM Tools & Methods
Of all the various strategies associated with the maintenance and reliability of production equipment in the manufacturing and process industries, none is more salient than precision maintenance when it comes to increasing production availability and reducing...
by Ken Bannister, MEch (UK), CMRP, MLE, Editor | Dec 7, 2019 | Maintenance Management, RAM Tools & Methods
Power transfer from electric motors or engine-drive pulleys to driven shafts by way of chains and sprockets or v-belts is an application of legacy systems that are still very relevant in today’s plant. While these types of driver-driven transmission systems are...
