by Drew Troyer, CRE, CMRP, T.A. Cook/Accenture, Editor | Apr 9, 2021 | Plant Operations, RAM Tools & Methods, RAM's Human Factor
My last article for The RAM Review (April 4, 2021, see link below) explored the important role middle managers can play in achieving transformational change. In it, I discussed the concept of psychological inertia. In physics, we refer to a force that has both rate...
by Drew Troyer, CRE, CMRP, T.A. Cook/Accenture, Editor | Apr 3, 2021 | Plant Operations, RAM Tools & Methods, RAM's Human Factor
As a consultant, I support my clients with a variety of initiatives to improve the performance, reliability, safety, and environmental sustainability of their plant equipment and manufacturing processes. Sometimes these initiatives are small, given the fact we’re...
by Bob Williamson, CMRP, CPMM, MIAM, Editor | Mar 7, 2021 | Asset Management, RAM's Human Factor
Making equipment reliable is more than an engineering project. More than precision maintenance. More than good data. And much more than many organizations consider at the onset. Reliability improvement requires many factors, elements, actions, and individual skill...
by Drew Troyer, CRE, CMRP, T.A. Cook/Accenture, Editor | Jan 24, 2021 | Asset Management, Newsletter Column, RAM's Human Factor
I routinely teach courses and workshops on various aspects of equipment-asset management, reliability engineering, and precision and proactive maintenance. During those sessions, I frequently refer metaphorically to parts of the human body and what causes it to be...
by Drew Troyer, CRE, CMRP, T.A. Cook/Accenture, Editor | Jan 3, 2021 | Newsletter Column, RAM's Human Factor
As maintenance and reliability professionals, we love rules of thumb and other easy-to-implement, tried-and-true solutions to problems. Experts who specialize in the human factors of failure refer to rules of thumb as “heuristics.” The reason we like...
by Randall Noon, P.E. | Dec 5, 2020 | Learning from Mistakes, RAM's Human Factor, Safety Matters
The following is an amalgam of several similar event investigations. Details that would otherwise allow a specific company or person to be identified have been generalized, combined, or removed. The purpose of this brief study is to illustrate specific principles and...
by Ken Bannister, MEch (UK), CMRP, MLE, Editor | Nov 8, 2020 | Newsletter Column, RAM's Human Factor, Workforce Issues
In North America, the primary written language used in maintenance and asset management is English. Unfortunately, the English language tolerates the use of many imprecise words that can cast doubt on their intended meaning and lead to poor interpretation and results....
by Bob Williamson, CMRP, CPMM, MIAM, Editor | Oct 10, 2020 | RAM's Human Factor, Workforce Issues
Detailed work instructions are the most important equipment-reliability-improvement tool we have: They explain the meaning of checklists. Such instructions list WHAT, HOW, and HOW WELL to perform a task, as opposed to checklists that typically just list WHAT to do....
by Drew Troyer, CRE, CMRP, T.A. Cook/Accenture, Editor | Oct 3, 2020 | Plant Operations, RAM Tools & Methods, RAM's Human Factor, Workforce Issues
I have written extensively in The RAM Review about the importance of precision-work instructions to ensure high-quality maintenance work. Such instructions are particularly valuable for bringing in a successful shutdown, turnaround, or outage (STO) event. The...
by Heinz Bloch, P.E., Editor | Jul 10, 2020 | RAM's Human Factor, The Bloch Files
If you want to show that you care about your workers or those of your client(s), read on. Yes, I have referenced this topic in previous writings and presentations (as have others on The RAM Review team. After all, elements of the topic cover issues of great importance...
