by Heinz Bloch, P.E., Editor | Feb 6, 2022 | Asset Management, Plant Operations, The Bloch Files
We recently received a compliment from someone in South America. In his introduction, he wrote, “I am a mechanical engineer working on power-plant designs for a major corporation and admire your work as a writer of turbomachinery books. Your texts are much respected,...
by Bob Williamson, CMRP, CPMM, MIAM, Editor | Jan 24, 2022 | Plant Operations, Workforce Issues
The scarcity of talented people entering today’s workplace seems to be a growing problem. While some manufacturing and other equipment-intensive operations struggle to meet customer (and supply-chain) demands, some are viewing this as an opportunity, not a problem....
by Randall Noon, P.E. | Jan 15, 2022 | Learning from Mistakes, Plant Operations, RAM Tools & Methods
Minimizing vibrations in rotating equipment increases equipment service life. Some of the benefits of lower vibration levels include reduced transient loads, lower bearing temperatures, and reduced wear. In that regard, most engineers, mechanics, and technicians are...
by Heinz Bloch, P.E., Editor | Jan 2, 2022 | Plant Operations, Safety Matters, The Bloch Files
One of the primary responsibilities of a Reliability Professional is the detection, questioning, and resolution of repeat failure events. Human lives may be at stake (thousands of them, at that). Figure 1 is a fitting reminder that pumps were involved in...
by Heinz Bloch, P.E., Editor | Dec 12, 2021 | Plant Operations, Professional Development, The Bloch Files
Several years ago, a U.S. trade journal noted that, “Successful lean implementation needs reliable equipment to prevent disastrous consequences. Together, lean plus reliable increase production capacity, decrease downtime/maintenance spending, and maximize impact and...
by Bob Williamson, CMRP, CPMM, MIAM, Editor | Dec 4, 2021 | Asset Management, Plant Operations
Consultants abound. There are plenty of them (us) offering a range of just about any type of assistance and services that a business might ever need. I’ve served as a consultant to hundreds of operations and thousands of individuals for more years than I care to...
by Bob Williamson, CMRP, CPMM, MIAM, Editor | Nov 29, 2021 | Newsletter Column, Plant Operations
“I’m doing the best I can, but it’s not enough. The other crew doesn’t seem to care about the equipment here. They beat it up, run it dry, don’t put things back. They don’t seem to understand that our jobs depend on taking care of it so we can take care of...
by Heinz Bloch, P.E., Editor | Nov 20, 2021 | Asset Management, Plant Operations, The Bloch Files
This article is a follow-up to one on choosing the right priorities (Nov. 13, 2021, see link below). To recap where we left off, Streamlined RCM (SRCM) methods include visual inspection and qualitative assessments in the field that are assigned on a daily, weekly, or...
by Heinz Bloch, P.E., Editor | Nov 15, 2021 | Asset Management, Plant Operations, The Bloch Files
This article looks at the past and asks readers if their companies have progressed from where they stood 20 or 25 years ago. In September 1999, I met with the reliability team of a Well-Known Petrochemical Company (let’s call it “WKPC”) to discuss ways of improving...
by Bob Williamson, CMRP, CPMM, MIAM, Editor | Nov 8, 2021 | Asset Management, Plant Operations
Preventive maintenance (PM) of production machinery would be a commonsense piece of cake if it weren’t for conflicting priorities. OEMs have every good intention when they outline PM requirements for their equipment. Maintenance specialists will adopt or adapt...
