by Heinz Bloch, P.E., Editor | Apr 3, 2022 | Lubrication Corner, Plant Operations, The Bloch Files
A reader at a refinery sought our advice and we answered. He wrote: “I am working to set up a lube program step here to begin sampling the lube oil we receive from our supplier upon receipt before deploying to field. My question is, from your experience, have...
by Heinz Bloch, P.E., Editor | Mar 27, 2022 | Asset Management, Plant Operations, The Bloch Files
“XYZ” (obviously not his real initials), a manager for “MPP,” whose products are process pumps, told me his company was working on the thrust chamber design for their new horizontal pump. I was interested because millions of process pumps would benefit from...
by Al Poling, CMRP | Mar 26, 2022 | Plant Operations, Professional Development, RAM's Human Factor
My father worked for the same company for 42 years before retiring on his 65th birthday. He provided wise counsel to me from adolescence through adulthood, although I was never comfortable with his blind loyalty to his employer. Listening to him, you would have...
by Heinz Bloch, P.E., Editor | Mar 20, 2022 | Plant Operations, The Bloch Files, Workforce Issues
All the book-learning in the world will fail us if we don’t use common sense. We could also say that we need to think things through and should recognize that intuitive logic can lead us astray. If that sounds like semantic banter, let’s zero in on three practical...
by Bob Williamson, CMRP, CPMM, MIAM, Editor | Mar 7, 2022 | Newsletter Column, Plant Operations
Machine-downtime tracking is a fundamental, foundational, most basic component of any reliability-improvement effort. Yet in many plants, I’ve noticed that any form of machine-downtime tracking is the responsibility of the Maintenance Department. Contrary to...
by Heinz Bloch, P.E., Editor | Feb 27, 2022 | Plant Operations, Tech Reviews, The Bloch Files
If you have struggled for a while with conventional pumps, viscosity-correction factors, and the like, you may be ready to think about recessed-impeller units. They’re often considered to be optimum for pumping duties that include free-flowing slurries, sludge,...
by Ken Bannister, MEch (UK), CMRP, MLE, Editor | Feb 20, 2022 | Lubrication Corner, Newsletter Column, Plant Operations
Recently, while conducting an on-line lubrication-training workshop, I received a question that I had never before been asked. Seeming at first, to be self-explanatory, it highlighted an over-used analogy with no direct parallel in maintenance terms and no distinct...
by Heinz Bloch, P.E., Editor | Feb 19, 2022 | Asset Management, Plant Operations
It’s too bad I cannot share all the details of a consulting experience that dates back a few years. Doing so is often thwarted by clients who first make a competent advisor sign a non-disclosure agreement and, occasionally, a non-defamation clause. In...
by Bob Williamson, CMRP, CPMM, MIAM, Editor | Feb 15, 2022 | Newsletter Column, Plant Operations
Supply-chain interruptions are still with us. In fact, for many business sectors, there seems to be almost no end in sight. Add to these interruptions the rising prices of goods and services. As a result, there will be many opportunities for decisions that undermine...
by Heinz Bloch, P.E., Editor | Feb 14, 2022 | Asset Management, Plant Operations, The Bloch Files
To recap, the author’s previous article for The RAM Review (Feb. 6, 2022, see link below) discussed a letter from mechanical engineer in South America who was seeking guidance on steam turbines for a combined-cycle-power-plant. The suitability of one type of...
