Web Workshop: Overview of the Reliability Centered Maintenance Project Managers Guide 2008-12-17T13:55:46Z

Please join Jack Nicholas Jr. for this 12th of 12 web workshops in the Advancing Reliability series for 2008 In this 60 minute workshop Jack will discuss how to use the Reliability Centered Maintenance Project Managers Guide (formerly known as the RCM Scorecard) to: 1) Provide leaders of RCM initiatives with the knowledge and identification of tools needed to be successful. 2) Provide prospective and actual RCM users, participants and other interested parties with a tool to help decision making on whether or not to initiate an RCM Project and (given the decision to proceed) determine progress in or demonstrate how successful it is while in progress and was after completion. RCM Project metrics, measures or Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) use data collected: a) When considering whether or not to conduct an RCM analysis on an asset b) Prior to performing an analysis, (prior to the RCM Analysis Phase) as a baseline c) During the RCM project Analysis Phase d) During and/or after RCM analysis as resulting action items are implemented (RCM Project Implementation Phase) e) From the point after implementation begins and throughout defined period(s) when benefits are realized. (RCM Project Benefits Phase) 3) Provide cognizant managers, supervisors and/or “champions” with a tool to help justify an RCM project and to measure progress on a given asset or set of systems during analysis and implementation phases. In addition, it provides a basis for measuring the benefits derived from the overall effort. 4) Provide a basis for comparison of differing approaches to RCM methodology. New: Use your PC VoIP or Telephone to hear the workshop. VoIP saves long distance charges. There is no fee for this web workshop. Reserve your Web Workshop seat now

Focus areas for RAMC 2008-12-17T13:54:26Z

Posted at MaintenanceForums.com We are intending to consolidate all our plant’ efforts under a so-called RAMC (Reliability, Availability, Maintainability and Capacity Utilization). Two basic purposes are: 1) to reduce downtime (either planned like plant turnaround or unplanned like plant trips). We aim to increase turnaround interval and/or decrease turnaround duration (product to product) 2) to operate at design nameplate capacity and/or to increase capacity by revamps and/or rejuvenation Current efforts include root cause analysis (RCA) for equipment failure and multitasks (equivalent to basic equipment care by operators and technicians). Will anyone share info on what are meaningful focus areas to concentrate for implementation and maximum impact at cost-effectiveness in other plants or facilities? Josh Read replies and post your comments at MaintenanceForums.com

Your hidden Profit - Free Workshops being held throughout United States in 2009 2008-12-17T13:53:33Z

Discover elements of a proactive system and what is needed to drive the system to be reliable as well as the traps that prevent asset management systems becoming proactive. Find out more about ARMS Workshops

Communicating to Production 2008-12-17T13:52:37Z

From a recent post at Maintenance.org We have a policy that Production signs off on our work orders when we repair a breakdown. Their signature indicates that they have knowledge of what we did, and that they have considered any possible effects to the quality of products coming out of the machine. When we do a PM or a machine modification, we usually do them during a time when no one from Production is around on off shifts. I need an easy way to make sure that they understand what we did to a machine, and that they check the part quality after we complete our work. We complete about 3000 PM or modification work orders a month, so It’s difficult to make sure that they know about every work order. I was wondering if someone else has a method to efficiently communicate this to Production. Read replies or post your own at Maintenance.org

Choose Allied Reliability, Inc. for real-life, practical training experience 2008-12-17T13:51:45Z

It is our privilege to offer Maintenance and Reliability professionals the tools necessary to build wealth and competitive advantage through world-class predictive maintenance and reliability across their global manufacturing network. 2009 Inspired Training advanced registration is open! Seats are limited! Contact Amy Campbell at: 843-414-5762 for more information. Find out more about Allied Inspired Training

Knocking on a gearbox at output RPM 2008-12-17T13:51:37Z

I have an odd problem with a gearbox. It is a Farrel SR158A, 2.72:1 ratio (106T/39T), single reduction, herringbone gears. It is driving a calendar roll (via a drive shaft) for our paper machine. The gear box is not old: about 2 months since installation. It is rebuilt, to what extent, I don’t know, but the gears look new. It has been making a sharp knocking noise at the output shaft frequency since the rebuild (output shaft = 533 RPM). The highest amplitude is vertical on the input shaft (1449 RPM). We don’t see any gear fault frequencies on either shaft. The Gear Mesh and 1st harmonic is modest (< 20% of overall). We were sure there was damage on the output gear (there seems to be a rash of them lately). So we pulled the inspection cover off of it, and examined the teeth. We slowly turned the gear around and did not see any significant wear or damage on the teeth, just a few very small dinks, and no uneven wear. We took an oil sample and it had no visible metal or crud in it (it’s still out for analysis). We pried on it radially and axially to see if it had play: none. We have run out of time on this shut down, but next chance we get we’ll put a dial indicator on the gear to see if it’s cocked on the shaft, though I don’t think that’s the problem. Any other ideas on where we should look? Carson Read replies and post you own here

Reliability Metrics - Do you know which ones to use? 2008-12-17T13:50:53Z

An iPresentation Tutorial by Ricky Smith, CMRP In the race to improve or optimize reliability, most companies give very little thought about the metrics they will use to manage asset reliability. Personally, I consider using the right Reliability Metrics and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) critical to the success of any proactive asset reliability program. Take 7 minutes to view my last of the series on Reliability 101 – Part 5 which is focused on Reliability Metrics/KPIs. Start your iPresentation Tutorial now

Measuring Performance 2008-12-17T13:49:56Z

The Need for Metrics Standardization by Walter Nijsen, CMRP Understanding how our plants perform and how well we perform in relation to others often reveals opportunities for improvement, at least in principle. The key question first raised is often, “Are we comparing apples with apples?” If not (as in many cases), the whole exercise of comparison, and to some extent, measurement, becomes somewhat (or completely) meaningless. More… Read the rest of the story and post your comments

Simple Tips on Preventive Maintenance - Economic Crisis Series 2008-12-10T19:44:13Z

By Ricky Smith, CMRP Many PM’s are highly invasive procedures which can disrupt and disturb stable systems. Take a pump, for example. Here are the five most common mistakes that can happen whenever a pump is taken apart and put back together again for the purpose of preventive maintenance: Bearings get damaged Shaft is not properly aligned Pump is not bolted down properly Seals are not properly installed and adjusted Lubricants get contaminated As a result, when the pump is turned back on, bad things can happen. The dirty little secret in maintenance is that a significant number of equipment problems are caused by maintenance itself. Stated a little differently, preventive maintenance can trigger the very same failures it’s intended to prevent. That’s why it’s important to avoid excessive tinkering. More… Read the rest of the story The purpose of maintenance policy by Angelo Agresti The purpose of the Maintenance Policy is to provide a common focus for all maintenance personnel based on a common operational purpose. The policy can be given to others, if the maintenance function is unloved and misunderstood, so they understand what is trying to be achieved and how. The policy needs to be developed with involvement from a cross section of people from the operation. It must be integrated with and complementary to a Production Policy so that, in combination, these policies are directed at achievement of operational objectives. Application of systems thinking will help people realize that production and maintenance are subsystems of the operating system and that this is a subsystem of the enterprise system. More… Read the rest of the story

Optimizing Planned Maintenance Strategies Using the Availability Workbench (AWB) SAP Portal 2008-12-10T19:41:22Z

Please join Richard Pullen of Isograph Ltd. for an SAPCenter.com 60 minute webinar that provides details about the SAP Portal for Availability Workbench (AWB) to: • Download locations, equipment and existing plans to the AWB RCM simulator • Automatically identify critical equipments for analysis using SAP data • Use AWB to simulate alternative PM strategies • Upload new and modified maintenance plans to SAP If you are involved in Reliability Engineering, please make sure to register for this informative web workshop. Date: Wednesday, December 17, 2008 Time: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM EST Reserve your Webinar seat now