Your Reliability Engineering Professional Development Site
Find all articles across all article series listed in reverse chronological order.
Our training provides experience with practical application, including team building and economic considerations. This testimony captures those experiences. Would you benefit from this training approach? [Read more…]
My wife (Beth) and I both train and compete in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. It’s a grappling sport like wrestling. In Jiu Jitsu your Gi (the karate looking uniform) is a big part of the sport. It’s a very heavy fabric with very specific features that are inspected before each match. Many moves involve the GI, especially the jacket. I have wrapped my sleeve around someones neck for a choke, You can grab the end of both of the opponents sleeves and dig your feed into their elbows to lock up their arms and throw them, you can use an opponent’s own lapel and wrap it around their neck for a submission or simply to roll them any way you wish.
Watch as I describe how maintenance can help us to achieve our equipment’s inherent reliability, but it can’t make a machine something that it isn’t. If we’re doing the right maintenance, and we still don’t have the reliability we want, we have two choices… [Read more…]
Part 1 of our interview with Sunil Kamerkar of AssetAnalytix. In this session, we discuss what analytics is and challenges faced when looking to utilize data. [Read more…]
Early in engineering, it seemed the purpose was to create products that made life easier. But eventually, I started to wonder – does that make life better? This video discusses that contradiction. [Read more…]
What is ‘the sum of all fears‘…apart from a Hollywood movie? During WW2 Winston Churchill knew the risk of failure and he postulated that, even when courageous people amalgamate, they will know fear:
“…take the most gallant sailor, the most intrepid airman or the most audacious soldier, put them at a table together – what do you get? The sum of [all] their fears”. War is a much more serious endeavour than any civilian project but fear is fear. If a project teeters into trouble the Project Team will fear failure. They must then deal with this reaction and have the courage to overcome trouble and avoid failure. [Read more…]
Quick overview of CMMS meters and why you should use them. [Read more…]
When it comes to managing risk, there are three elements to consider and RCM can help you define all three. Watch as I manage risk and change consequences all at once! [Read more…]
It’s been a few years since I have had a Porsche 911 in the stable. It seemed like the right time since were down to only two 
sports cars in addition to the daily drivers. I think five cars is the bare minimum these days. “It’s only a problem if you want to stop but can’t.” I don’t want to. There are some less free spirited individuals in the house who have expressed differing opinions.
Guest Post by Geary Sikich (first posted on CERM ® RISK INSIGHTS – reposted here with permission)
There seem to be a lot of sightings of “Black Swans” lately. Should we be concerned or are we wishfully thinking, caught up in media hype; or are we misinterpreting what a “Black Swan” event really is? The term “Black Swan” has become a popular buzzword for many; including, contingency planners, risk managers and consultants. However, are there really that many occurrences that qualify to meet the requirement of being termed a “Black Swan” or are we just caught up in the popularity of the moment? [Read more…]
Whenever I’m at an airport, I always get nostalgic because RCM principles were first conceived in the commercial airline industry. It’s an exciting story. Join me as I recount the details! [Read more…]
Interview of Paul Crocker from 04 May 2019. We discuss Paul’s involvement with KC SMRP chapter, his work in reliability, his journey, and his continued improvement in public speaking. [Read more…]
There is no more important task in an FMEA than correctly identifying the “Cause.” Finding the root cause is the heart and soul of FMEA procedure. When you have the right cause, it opens the door to solutions. When you have the wrong cause, nothing gets accomplished.
By continuing to ask “why,” the team will be able to discover the progression of cause-and-effect relationships behind a problem and the root cause that is below the surface.
Wisdom begins in wonder – Socrates
People claim a trend in selfish people. But what is selfish? In work and in basketball? The answer may catch you off guard! But it has proven to be true. [Read more…]
In many manufacturing plants, managing equipment breakdowns and can seem like an overwhelming task. Machine failures occur without warning, production lines go down, managers and supervisors point fingers, and maintenance personnel continually chase parts and problems.
It’s often the case that these plants do not use a CMMS to gather data, plan preventative maintenance, or schedule repairs. This lack of planning contributes to a reactive maintenance environment where personnel is constantly trying to ‘keep up’ with production line problems.
