on Maintenance Reliability

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:

• Write effective Primary Functions with clear performance standards
• Use an algorithm to decide which Functions should be included
• Avoid analysis paralysis and keep your FMEA meaningful and manageable

Don’t let a never-ending list of Functions bog down your analysis—watch now to learn how to streamline your approach!

In today’s short video, I share how the delivery of our new metal building reminded me of a key aspect of Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM). RCM was designed to be carried out with a Facilitated Working Group approach, bringing together a team of equipment experts to answer the RCM questions.

By using this approach, not only do you get comprehensive answers, but you also capture and memorialize the knowledge and experience of your experts—something that could amount to over 100 cumulative years’ experience in the room!

Even if one of your team members retires or moves on, their knowledge remains. Watch to find out how you can make the most of this valuable resource.

Is Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) a maintenance plan?

In this short video, I explain why RCM is NOT a maintenance plan. It’s a process designed to help YOU determine the most effective proactive maintenance tasks and how often to perform them. But that’s not all! In this video I give a quick overview to answer the question: “What is Reliability Centered Maintenance?”

You start by creating a Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA). Then, you analyze each Failure Mode using the RCM Decision Diagram—one at a time. First, you assess the consequences, then you consider Condition-Based Maintenance or Preventive Maintenance. RCM also helps you formulate solutions for Failure Modes that can’t be predicted or prevented. You can develop solutions like Failure Finding tasks, procedure changes, or additional training.

With RCM, you’ll get the reliability you need, one Failure Mode at a time.

When you do RCM you also create an FMEA.

In this video, I explain the connection between Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) and Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA). Many people wonder if these are two different processes, but when you perform RCM, the first four steps—defining functions, identifying functional failures, analyzing failure modes, and assessing failure effects—essentially fulfill the requirements of an FMEA. By following the RCM process, you’re already doing the work needed for an FMEA. I break this down and show how they align.

I’m Nancy Regan, and I hope this clears up the confusion! Thank you for watching.