by Heinz Bloch, P.E., Editor | Apr 10, 2022 | Asset Management, Professional Development, The Bloch Files
Some liquids are not easy to pump, and ammonia is probably one of them. A number of years ago, a reader contacted us regarding issues he encountered with pumps in ammonia service. A bit of exasperation caused him to write to two colleagues with whom he shared...
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 | Jan 30, 2022 | Professional Development, RAM Tools & Methods, The Bloch Files
If past is prelude, we should soon be seeing the return of robust reliability and/or maintenance conferences and exhibitions. Many of us have attended these annual events in years past. Some that quickly come to mind include, among other things, those organized by the...
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 Heinz Bloch, P.E., Editor | Sep 25, 2021 | Professional Development, RAM's Human Factor, The Bloch Files
On several occasions, I’ve engaged in litigation support. For me, litigation support means occasionally choosing to work for law firms that pay engineers to relate how and why machines function and/or malfunction. While it is my obligation to do the explaining,...
