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Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) is a time-honored, proven process that helps organizations achieve their Maintenance and Reliability goals. But, it’s often misunderstood and misapplied. In “Everyday RCM,” Nancy Regan sets forth RCM’s principles and purpose in a straightforward (and often fun!) manner using “everyday” examples. (She even gets Elvis, Batman, Chewbacca, and Vegas showgirls involved to help debunk some of RCM’s biggest misconceptions.) Enjoy!
In this video, I share how Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) helps break the cycle of reactive mode by identifying plausible Failure Modes. I’ll explain the four criteria used for listing Failure Modes in an RCM analysis and how this proactive approach helps prevent unexpected downtime. Plus, stick around for a progress update on our building project!
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True or False. Does RCM Always Reduce Scheduled Maintenance? False! Applying Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) may reduce scheduled maintenance if your current plans are heavy in scheduled replacement and restoration tasks. But if your organization is in Reactive Mode, RCM might actually result in more scheduled maintenance. The key benefit? Reduced unplanned downtime and significantly improved Equipment Reliability.
Watch to learn how RCM impacts your maintenance strategy! I’m Nancy Regan from Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Thank you for watching!
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Not long ago, I walked into a spider’s web on my stairwell. By the next morning, the web was rebuilt! This persistence reminded me of something my mentor, John Moubray, taught me…
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Hi everyone! In this video, I’m sharing some key insights from the CMC Colombia 2024 conference, where I attended presentations by Ramesh Gulati and Doc Palmer. Ramesh spoke about KPIs and the importance of considering people, not just equipment. Doc Palmer highlighted valuable lessons about planning and scheduling, emphasizing that things don’t have to be perfect to get the job done.
Join me and Doc Palmer as we wrap up the conference with some great takeaways!
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Welcome to Part 4 of our Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) Case Study, where we take a deep dive into Condition Based Maintenance (CBM). CBM, also known as On-Condition Maintenance, is a proactive approach that allows us to detect Potential Failure Conditions and take corrective action before failure occurs. In this video, I explain:
Hi everyone! I’m Nancy Regan, and today I’m coming to you from the iconic pyramid of Chichen Itza in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. The ancient Mayans believed that their pyramid connected them to both the underworld and the sky—a symbol of balance and connection. This powerful idea got me thinking about Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) and the importance of leveraging our most valuable resource: equipment experts.
In this video, I’ll explain why equipment experts are crucial to the RCM process. They bring insights that historical data alone can’t provide, understanding how things fail, what causes them to fail, and how each failure matters —what we call consequences in RCM. Documenting their knowledge through RCM not only improves reliability but also preserves their invaluable expertise for the future.
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Hi everyone! In this video we use Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) principles. Yesterday, we poured the concrete floor for our metal building, and I learned that newly poured concrete faces a unique Failure Mode: Water evaporates too quickly during drying due to normal environmental conditions. This can lead to excessive cracks that compromise the strength of the structure.
In Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM), Step 7—Default Strategies—helps us determine how to manage specific Failure Modes that require unique actions. In this case, the solution is to keep the concrete wet for at least three days, and luckily, Mother Nature is giving us a hand this weekend!
Remember, RCM isn’t just about routine Proactive Maintenance. Sometimes, your equipment may need special, one-time actions or other Default Strategies to manage particular Failure Modes.
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Hi everyone! Today, we’re pouring the concrete floor for our metal building, and it’s a perfect analogy for Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM). Just like this concrete forms a solid foundation that will support our structure for decades, RCM isn’t a quick fix or the program of the week. It’s about building a lasting foundation for your reliability efforts.
RCM takes time, the right people, and a commitment to the process to develop proactive maintenance tasks that truly make a difference. Build for the long term—invest in RCM and lay the groundwork for future reliability!
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Welcome to Part 3 of our in-depth RCM mini-series! In today’s video, we continue our dentist-inspired case study by exploring Failure Consequences and diving deep into the world of Preventive Maintenance. This session is packed with practical insights that reveal how to properly establish Preventive Maintenance tasks and their intervals.
What You’ll Learn:
In today’s video, we dive deep into the critical steps of Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM) by exploring Failure Modes and Failure Effects as part of our ongoing dentist-themed mini RCM case study. This is Part 2 of a four-part series designed to help you understand and apply RCM principles through relatable, real-world examples. What You’ll Learn:
Case Study Highlight: We’ll look at the specific Failure Mode of bacteria accumulation that leads to cavities and track the progression from the earliest signs of decay to severe health consequences if left untreated. This detailed look will help you see why writing Failure Effects is crucial for assessing failure consequences
Key Takeaways: How to identify and write precise Failure Modes that lead to effective maintenance strategies. The importance of documenting Failure Effects to understand the full impact of asset failures.
This is a must-watch for anyone looking to refine their RCM skills and apply them practically. Be sure to tune in tomorrow for Part 3, where we’ll explore Failure Consequences and Preventive Maintenance!
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Mini RCM Case Study: Creating a Reliability Strategy from My Trip to the Dentist
Welcome to Part 1 of our four-part mini-series, where we’ll create an RCM case study inspired by a relatable scenario: a trip to the dentist! In this series, you’ll learn the fundamentals of Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM) and apply them in a practical, engaging way.
In this video, we’ll cover:
1. Operating Context – Learn what it is, why it’s important, and how to draft it.
2. Functions – Discover how to define the reliability you need from your equipment by writing specific and measurable functions.
Meet Johnny Chomper—a 30-year-old professional whose teeth need to perform well to support his lifestyle. From biting and chewing to maintaining a confident smile, Johnny’s teeth are put to the test daily. We’ll draft his operating context and write a Primary Function that clearly defines the reliability required from his teeth. What You’ll Learn:
Stay tuned as we build this case study step-by-step, bringing RCM concepts to life in a way that’s easy to understand and apply. Don’t miss the next video, where we’ll dive into Failure Modes and Failure Effects!
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How do you determine the right interval for a Condition Based Maintenance (CBM) task? It all comes down to the P-F Interval—the time between when a Potential Failure Condition is detectable to when the failure occurs.
In this video, I break down how to set CBM task intervals correctly using a simple example. The Failure Mode is: “Filter clogs due to normal use.” I’ll explain that CBM task intervals aren’t based on Criticality, MTBF, or the Useful Life, but instead on how quickly failure occurs once a Potential Failure Condition is detectable.
Learn how to properly identify and set your CBM task intervals to keep your equipment running reliably
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Why Inherent Reliability is About More Than Just How Long Equipment Lasts 🌟
In this video, filmed at the iconic Kukulcan Temple in Chichen Itza, Mexico, I explore one of the most important concepts in Reliability: Inherent Reliability. Inherent Reliability isn’t just about how long something will last without failing—it’s about how long it will last when we “feed” it with the right proactive maintenance and appropriate default strategies.
Just as the ancient Mayans offered blood sacrifices to feed their gods, we need to feed our equipment with the right maintenance tasks at the right intervals to keep it performing as needed. Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) helps us identify the precise tasks and timing to protect our assets, ensuring that we get the Reliability we need.
In this video, you’ll learn:
The true meaning of Inherent Reliability
How Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) helps define what failure means to you
The importance of performing the right maintenance tasks at the right intervals
Equip your team with the knowledge to “feed” your assets and achieve the Reliability you’re aiming for. Watch now to learn more!
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Why RCM is a Must for Every Reliability Professional 🛠️
In this video, I’m taking you to the foundation of our new metal building to show why learning Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) should be a must for every reliability professional—even if you never formally implement it. RCM creates the foundation for an effective Reliability Culture by teaching five core concepts that are essential for any team.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
Core Concept 1: How defining Functions establishes the reliability you need.
Core Concept 2: Why identifying Failure Modes correctly is crucial for managing failures.
Core Concept 3: How to choose proactive maintenance tasks that are technically feasible and worth doing.
Core Concept 4: Understanding the role of Protective Devices and Failure Finding tasks.
Core Concept 5: The power of multidisciplinary teams in RCM and why collaboration leads to stronger, more reliable outcomes.
Whether you fully implement RCM or simply learn its core concepts, understanding these fundamentals makes you a more effective reliability professional. So, are you ready to build your foundation?
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In this tutorial, I show you how to determine which Functions to include in your Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) so you can avoid the common pitfall of creating a meaningless list of generic Functions. Many organizations end up with a “Component FMEA,” filled with unnecessary or poorly defined Functions that don’t truly represent what’s needed from the equipment. In this video, I’ll walk you through an algorithm that will help you focus on what’s important, using an industrial air compressor as an example. By the end, you’ll know how to:
Don’t let a never-ending list of Functions bog down your analysis—watch now to learn how to streamline your approach!
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