by Heinz Bloch, P.E., Editor | May 23, 2020 | RAM Tools & Methods, The Bloch Files
Many decades ago, my grandmother would leverage the old adage in this title to remind me about the importance of taking precautionary measures. Neither she nor I, though, ever could have imagined how that saying would apply to reciprocating compressors some 77 years...
by Bob Williamson, CMRP, CPMM, MIAM, Editor | May 15, 2020 | RAM Tools & Methods, Workforce Issues
Over the past few months, I’ve been modernizing my home office. In the course of my rigorous spring cleaning, sorting, and pitching, I couldn’t help but be amazed by the amount of “stuff” that had accumulated during my four decades of consulting and...
by Ken Bannister, MEch (UK), CMRP, MLE, Editor | May 2, 2020 | Asset Management, RAM Tools & Methods
During a recent COVID-19-compelled social-distancing phone call with a colleague, our discussion turned to the topic of asset-management practices and their overall effect on equipment care and the maintenance workforce. My colleague then challenged me to identify the...
by Heinz Bloch, P.E., Editor | May 2, 2020 | RAM Tools & Methods, The Bloch Files
A machine manufacturer rediscovered the old axiom regarding extrapolations after experiencing many bearing failures in its 40-hp air blowers. The design incorporated life-time lubricated (sealed) blower bearings in rotors that spun 20-mm shafts at 22,000 rpm, and the...
by Drew Troyer, CRE, CMRP, Editor | Apr 26, 2020 | Asset Management, RAM Tools & Methods, Workforce Issues
Over the past few months, I’ve devoted a great deal of my attention and energy to the topic of creating a “defect-avoidance culture” in the plant. Culture isn’t an easy thing to change. It’s even harder to sustain because of a phenomenon referred to as psychological...
by Ken Bannister, MEch (UK), CMRP, MLE, Editor | Apr 25, 2020 | Planning & Scheduling, RAM Tools & Methods
In the world of maintenance and asset management, equipment failure is an all too common occurrence. Unfortunately, setting in place a strategy and methodology to understand and learn from each equipment failure is not a common occurrence. It’s through an acute...
by Drew Troyer, CRE, CMRP, Editor | Apr 17, 2020 | Asset Management, RAM Tools & Methods
We all love rules of thumb. They make life simpler. In the plant, we often use rules of thumb to quickly size up a problem based upon similar problems that we’ve seen before and apply a solution framework that’s been effective in the past. Unfortunately, these...
by Drew Troyer, CRE, CMRP, Editor | Apr 11, 2020 | Asset Management, RAM Tools & Methods
The goal of any reliability-focused asset management system is to avoid defects. Doing so requires a comprehensive management system that includes defect avoidance, defect detection and, finally, defect correction. Defect management for most organizations is oriented...
by Heinz Bloch, P.E., Editor | Apr 4, 2020 | RAM Tools & Methods, The Bloch Files, Workforce Issues
Managers have cause to ask for cost justifications or projections before they sign off on proposed equipment upgrades (see my Mar. 27, 2020, article). These projections are preferably on the safe side. They should not promise unrealistic returns on the investment....
by Heinz Bloch, P.E., Editor | Mar 27, 2020 | RAM Tools & Methods, The Bloch Files
In the mid-1980a, one of my informal mentors held a mid-level management position at a refinery just North of Galveston, TX. He was a highly respected, educated man of few words. His advice was always factual, pure common sense. One of his core beliefs was simply...
