An example of how we work with people. While a basketball example, it shows many traits that apply equally to engineering and new product development. [Read more…]
Coaching and Learning for Engineering and Basketball
Articles
Find all articles across all article series listed in reverse chronological order.
Small Satellites, Emerging Technology and Big Opportunities (part one of seven) – Reliability and Awesome New Things
Two rockets launched from Earth in November 2013. They carried a total of 61 small satellites from 20 different manufacturers. A satellite that is less than 500 kg in mass is considered ‘small.’ But small satellites are unique in many other ways. Old and ‘big’ satellites are massive, multi-billion dollar machines that take years to build and are the ‘only shot’ at achieving a mission. A ‘big satellite’ that stops working is a disaster. If a ‘small satellite’ fails, there can be many others floating around Earth to pick up the slack. [Read more…]
What Can You Do With Data?
A Question & Answer Period with Fred Schenkelberg and James Kovacevic on what can be done with your data and analysis.
Data and the analyses that use the data can be tricky to manage at best, let along extremely difficult.
In this last post of the series on using the maintenance data you have, Fred and James will answer many of the common questions asked about data and the analyses. [Read more…]
Project Governance and Resource Management
All projects or programs have a formal or informal resource management process, with the goal of completing projects on time, within budget and with good project quality.
In order to meet this goal, the resource management objectives are:
- the quantity of estimated resources is accurate
- the resource role requirements are clear and precise
- the resources meet or exceed the expectations (requirements)
- the resources are added in a timely manner
- cost of the resources is minimized to the extent possible
Holiday Detection in Above-ground Tank Bottom Lining Inspection
What you will learn from this article.
- There are two ways to detect holidays in tank linings.
- Explanation of the low voltage ‘wet sponge’ method of testing linings.
- The second method is high voltage spark detection.
- Importance of confirming the presence of sufficient liner thickness.
- The likely trouble spots where linings can thin.
Intellectual Abuse: A new Problem in the Workplace
Guest Post by Malcolm Peart (first posted on CERM ® RISK INSIGHTS – reposted here with permission)
In the workplace we have identified and attempted to eradicate racial and gender discrimination, sexual harassment and bullying. We now battle age discrimination in our aging society in a (supposedly) increasingly politically correct world. However, our intellects are also being abused as individuals find increasing ways to breach of the bounds of reasonable behavior and put our sanity and dignity at risk. [Read more…]
Over Priced Brands
I find it interesting when high end brands look to maximize profit by going for the money grab of lowering quality while maintaining price point. It seems so foolishly short sighted. The amountof work that goes into creating a highly reputable brand is extensive and decades in the making. Brands can be tarnished very quick and very difficult to recover. So why do this? A few reasons I have seen:
The 6 Signs of a Failing Plant
About a year ago, I wrote an article about the 6 signs of a reliable plant that got warm reception and a few nice comments. More interesting however was a private message I received from a Reliability Engineer who asked if I had a list of signs that a plant was in chaos and needed a wake up call to turn things around. I responded to the note, drafted a title page and a list of some of the sure signs a plant is in trouble.
This is the resulting article. [Read more…]
Coaching in Business Problem Solving – Radio Interview
Coaching in Business Problem Solving – Radio Interview
This radio interview combines the principles of business problem solving and basketball coaching. [Read more…]
The WHAT and, More Importantly, The WHY of the Weibull Analysis
How to conduct a Weibull analysis and the questions the analysis will generate.
Every failure is part of a puzzle. The equipment we are maintaining is trying to communicate with use with each and every failure.
Often the message is not obvious.
There is the immediate failure. And, if we’re paying attention we can sort out the root cause of the failure along with replacing or repairing the damaged parts. Sometimes though the damage is caused by another issue with the system.
Something was hidden. [Read more…]
Set-up Tank Agitator Gearboxes for a Long Life at Low Cost
What you will learn from this article.
- The types of forces developed in a turning agitator.
- Gearbox position and configuration for long-life.
- Bearing arrangements to minimise gearbox loading.
- Simple, strong agitator support arrangements.
- Vapour seals are needed to stop fumes escaping.
- Lots of low maintenance selection and design tips.
Agitated vessels and tanks are common throughout the process and chemical industries. A properly sized agitator with correct proportions to suit the tank will deliver well-mixed product. A correctly sized gearbox with well-chosen bearings and bearing arrangements will need only regular lubrication while giving years of trouble free service. [Read more…]
Real World Volatility
Guest Post by Geary Sikich (first posted on CERM ® RISK INSIGHTS – reposted here with permission)
Introduction
In the risk-neutral world, all business and government continuity planning would be risk-balanced. However, in reality, risks, threats, hazards and their consequences change depending on an organizations exposure, sensitivities to impact and other factors. For instance, a natural disaster, can occur without much warning and can have direct and indirect impact on an organization. Complicating the Business Continuity Planners life is a simple fact, events have unforeseen consequences that can rarely be planned for. [Read more…]
Lessons from Scrum for Opportunity Champions
In a previous article we compared and contrasted the role & responsibility for a scrum master vs. project manager/core team leader (CTL/PM).
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the scrum product owner role and compare it with the product development team’s “opportunity champion”.
Maybe we can fall in love again
We’ll the boat saga continues. As I shared she has turned out to be a cruel mistress. Enticing and a thrill at times and then without warnign I get the cold shoulder. So I am going to take a well known reliability strategy with her. Hopefully we can just be in love again with all of our interactions being nothing but bliss. it’s the oldest reliability trick in the book. “Less is More” The less parts you have the less there is to break.
The more I have gone through this fuel injection system the more amazed I am it has worked this long. The main power relays on the motor are automotive i.e. not for a very wet and humid application. Then !!!(this is infuriating) they are mounted upside down so the seams for the protective cover are on top. This is a boat motor compartment. It has water in the bottom that get’s heated up when the motor runs. Then cools off, condensates after use. Over and over again. That is basically a humidity cycling chamber.
Sample Size – Measuring a Continuous Variable
Sample Size – Measuring a Continuous Variable
Introduction
When planning a test on a continuous variable, the most common question was “How many should I test”? Later, when the test results were available, the questions were “What is the confidence?” or “How precise was the result?” This article focuses on planning the measurements of a continuous variable and analyzing the test results.
