by Heinz Bloch, P.E., Editor | May 8, 2022 | Plant Operations, RAM Tools & Methods, The Bloch Files
For process pumps that consistently meet high reliability expectations, oil rings are rarely (if ever) the most dependable means of lubricant application. They tend to skip around and even abrade (Fig. 1) unless: the shaft system is truly horizontal. However,...
by Howard Penrose, Ph.D., CMRP | May 1, 2022 | Asset Management, RAM Tools & Methods
Big Data. That definitely was the tipping point. Over many years, starting in the 1970s, concepts around replication of human interactions through computers and the terms “neural network” and “Machine Learning (ML)” were found mostly in...
by Bob Williamson, CMRP, CPMM, MIAM, Editor | Apr 25, 2022 | Newsletter Column, RAM Tools & Methods
Over time, many businesses have invested in a wide variety of equipment from multiple manufacturers. Such “investments” often have been made by engineering departments in concert with procurement under strict project budget limitations. Cost-conscious procurement of...
by Jim Seffrin, CMRP | Apr 24, 2022 | IR Thermography, RAM Tools & Methods
With interest in renewable energy at an all-time high, photovoltaic (PV) systems have become a common sight worldwide. Infrared inspections can be used for quality-assurance inspections of new installations or to monitor the performance of existing ones. Photovoltaics...
by Drew Troyer, CRE, CMRP, T.A. Cook/Accenture, Editor | Apr 3, 2022 | Asset Management, RAM Tools & Methods
Over the past six months, I’ve focused on high-level metrics and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for asset management. We’ve addressed Mean Time Between/To Failure (MTBF/MTTR), Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) and its associated loss categories, Return on Net...
by Howard Penrose, Ph.D., CMRP | Apr 3, 2022 | Electrical Reliability, RAM Tools & Methods
Noise and vibration are measurable losses in the operation of a rotating system, and they can be directly identified in electric motors. As noted in Considering The Direct Energy And Environmental Impact Of Misalignment | THE RAM REVIEW, there are definitive energy...
by Bob Williamson, CMRP, CPMM, MIAM, Editor | Mar 28, 2022 | Newsletter Column, RAM Tools & Methods
Manufacturing processes typically incorporate a flow, including equipment, conveyance, and manual-work processes, which are organized in ways that convert incoming materials/items into sub-assemblies and/or finished goods. Efficient processes achieve a smooth and...
by Howard Penrose, Ph.D., CMRP | Mar 26, 2022 | Asset Management, RAM Tools & Methods
One message floating around the physical-asset management community is that “reliability and maintenance are an income.” It resonates deeply given the fact everyone wants to feel that whatever we do is important to our organizations. Maintenance is clearly...
by Bob Williamson, CMRP, CPMM, MIAM, Editor | Mar 21, 2022 | Newsletter Column, RAM Tools & Methods
Back in the day (the late 1970s and early 1980s, to be exact), we learned from Philip B. Crosby’s book that “Quality is Free.” Crosby’s basic concept was based on his “zero defects” quality-improvement approach. This landmark approach was initially...
by Drew Troyer, CRE, CMRP, T.A. Cook/Accenture, Editor | Mar 20, 2022 | Asset Management, RAM Tools & Methods
Continuing with our focus on metrics and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), let’s carry on with our discussion of the balance sheet, i.e., the denominator in the Return on Net Assets (RONA) equation that has been addressed in previous installments of The RAM Review)....
