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...
by Ken Bannister, MEch (UK), CMRP, MLE, Editor | Jan 2, 2022 | RAM Tools & Methods, Workforce Issues
From an early age, I have always enjoyed spending time with people who are older than me. While capitalizing on the energy and inventiveness of youth, I have also recognized that anything new is typically an iteration of something conceived many years previously, then...
by Drew Troyer, CRE, CMRP, T.A. Cook/Accenture, Editor | Dec 13, 2021 | Asset Management, RAM Tools & Methods
In Part 3 of this series (see links below ) on Yield/Speed, the second element of Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), we discussed production-induced losses. This week, we address market and/or market- and marketing-induced Yield/Speed losses. One doesn’t commonly...
by Drew Troyer, CRE, CMRP, T.A. Cook/Accenture, Editor | Dec 4, 2021 | Asset Management, RAM Tools & Methods
In Parts 1 and 2 of this series on the second element of Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), we discussed Yield/Speed in general, as well as various equipment-related issues of poor yield performance (see links to Parts 1 and 2 below.) This week, we are looking at...
by Howard Penrose, Ph.D., CMRP | Dec 4, 2021 | Electrical Reliability, RAM Tools & Methods
A bearing fails in a variable frequency drive (VFD) application. The response is to apply a shaft brush and insulated bearing. A critical electric motor shorts to ground. The response is to rewind or replace the motor and continue business as usual. When equipment...
