by Drew Troyer, CRE, CMRP, T.A. Cook/Accenture, Editor | Feb 6, 2022 | Asset Management, RAM Tools & Methods
For most of 2021, my articles for The RAM Review focused on the various metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs) for equipment-asset management. I started with a series on proactive leading indicators such as Overall Vibration Effectiveness (OVE) and Overall...
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 | Jan 23, 2022 | Asset Management, RAM Tools & Methods, The Bloch Files
Just as good medical doctors are expected to know much about modern treatment options, we should also expect reliability professionals to be informed on advances in technology. Conscientious reliability professionals will take advantage of books, articles, editorial...
by Drew Troyer, CRE, CMRP, T.A. Cook/Accenture, Editor | Jan 17, 2022 | Asset Management, RAM Tools & Methods
Happy New Year! I hope all readers had a pleasant and restful Festive Season. I’m kicking off 2022 with a continuation of my discussion on lagging metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs) for asset management. Here, we’re turning our attention to Quality,...
by Heinz Bloch, P.E., Editor | Jan 15, 2022 | Lubrication Corner, RAM Tools & Methods, The Bloch Files
One of my recent articles (Jan. 10, 2022, see link below) made the case for simplified equipment-failure analysis. We referred to it as the FRETT approach. FRETT stands for Force, Reactive Environment, Time, and Temperature. Its application is best explained using an...
by Ken Bannister, MEch (UK), CMRP, MLE, Editor | Jan 15, 2022 | Asset Management, RAM Tools & Methods
In my newsletter column of Jan. 10, 2022, (see link below), I wrote that as a maintenance calendar winds down, our thoughts often turn to events of the year past. At that point, it is not unusual to question the effectiveness of our current approach to maintenance. Do...
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 Ken Bannister, MEch (UK), CMRP, MLE, Editor | Jan 10, 2022 | Newsletter Column, RAM Tools & Methods
Happy 2022 New Year to all RAM professionals. The New Year is synonymous with a restart, refresh, or rebirth for individuals and businesses alike. And it’s universally recognized as the most natural temporal milestone for change. As clocks zero out, the New Year...
by Heinz Bloch, P.E., Editor | Jan 10, 2022 | Asset Management, RAM Tools & Methods, The Bloch Files
Successful failure-analysis and -avoidance strategies will have structure and be repeatable. Within the scope of this article, the reader is (again) reminded of some straightforward routines that have been in use since the 1960s. These techniques are anchored in two...
by Bob Williamson, CMRP, CPMM, MIAM, Editor | Jan 3, 2022 | Newsletter Column, RAM Tools & Methods
Making decisions about what to improve and how to measure the rate of improvement requires a systematic use of data. But whether we’re dealing with raw data, databases, or spreadsheets, it’s important to use “the right data.” Doing so is not...
