by Bob Williamson, CMRP, CPMM, MIAM, Editor | May 22, 2020 | Plant Operations, Safety Matters
As manufacturing ramps up amid the COVID-19 pandemic, as manufacturers return from China, as we look toward the road ahead with new technologies, there are bound to be challenges along the way. Responding to the need for epic-proportion health and safety...
by Heinz Bloch, P.E., Editor | Apr 26, 2020 | Newsletter Column, Plant Operations, Safety Matters
It has been 56 years since I changed from a career path in high-speed machinery to employment in the petrochemical and refining industries. Over the course of my work, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting hundreds of value-adders. Conversely, I also have dealt with people...
by Drew Troyer, CRE, CMRP, Principal, T.A. Cook, Editor | Mar 1, 2020 | RAM Tools & Methods, Safety Matters, The Sustainable Plant
Fugitive emissions, are a concern across the industrial landscape. Although this article focuses on leveraging predictive maintenance (PdM) to combat the problem in the natural-gas arena, the suggested strategies and tactics can be adapted in any operation where...
by Ken Bannister, MEch (UK), CMRP, MLE, Editor | Feb 10, 2020 | Newsletter Column, Safety Matters
One of the hallmarks of a best-practice maintenance organization is its preparedeness and ability to respond to emergency situations, whether they have occurred or could occur. The definition of an emergency is commonly understood to be a situation or occurrence that...
by Bob Williamson, CMRP, CPMM, MIAM, Editor | Feb 8, 2020 | RAM's Human Factor, Safety Matters
“Human error” is an often-cited cause or contributing factor in accidents and failures. We routinely see this with our plant equipment. But, identifying ways to reduce or eliminate “human error” can be challenging without a structured process for indentifying and...
by Howard Penrose, Ph.D., CMRP | Jan 25, 2020 | Electrical Reliability, Motors & Drives, Safety Matters
One of the least understood, yet critical, components of power quality is the grounding system. While we cannot cover all variations of these systems, it’s important to note that the primary methods are grounded/bonded; resistance ground; and,...
by Howard Penrose, Ph.D., CMRP | Jan 12, 2020 | Electrical Reliability, Motors & Drives, Safety Matters
As noted in previous articles in this series on motor-driven equipment and electrical-system-reliability issues in today’s plants, the primary electrical concern is the supply to electric motors, i.e., the voltage. An electric motor is electrically designed around the...
by Howard Penrose, Ph.D., CMRP | Dec 20, 2019 | Electrical Reliability, Motors & Drives, Safety Matters
Voltage unbalance and its most severe form, single phasing, cause up to 14% of power-quality-related motor failures. It’s important to understand that maximum current unbalance is not defined in standards for electric motors in their operating environment,...
by Bob Williamson, CMRP, CPMM, MIAM, Editor | Dec 7, 2019 | RAM Tools & Methods, Safety Matters, Workforce Issues
“D’ya think I’m stupid? Checklists are for dummies.” “I know what I’m doing. I’ve done it for years.” “Why would I ever need a checklist?” These types of remarks sum up what, even now, is a widely held view among maintenance and reliability teams on many plant floors....
by Howard Penrose, Ph.D., CMRP | Nov 29, 2019 | Electrical Reliability, Motors & Drives, Safety Matters
Power quality involves a variety of impacts on the Voltage supply, the Current, and the grounding system While many standards and documents emphasize one part or another, the reality is all of these factors impact each other. Unfortunately, except for...
