Your Reliability Engineering Professional Development Site
Find all articles across all article series listed in reverse chronological order.
Every journey begins with a statement of the goal or objective. Why would it be any different for FMEA? Yet, some FMEA teams do not clearly identifying the focus of the analysis. This sounds simple, and it is; but, it is very important. This article explains why.
“Begin with the end in mind” – Stephen Covey
After years of creating a positive impact with our training, we have discovered several elements to be aware of. When I first was looking for a Design of Experiments (DOE) trainer, I ran across these items too often. This is what drove us to create our own system of training. It grew out of control from there. [Read more…]
I get mad at Stan Nowlan and Howard Heap from time to time. Twenty years ago their work titled Reliability Centered Maintenance became the focus of my life when I first discovered the impact that RCM could have on manufacturing reliability. Since that time, I have authored somewhere around fifty articles on the subject, been a featured speaker at nearly three conferences a year and several years ago I even completed a book on the subject, describing what I see as the most effective way to complete a RCM analysis as well as the impact it can have on equipment and process reliability (Reliability Centered Maintenance using RCM Blitz™). For those who have taken the time to become educated in what a good RCM analysis is all about, they know power of this tool and where it applies. I know from experience, Reliability Centered Maintenance can and will deliver incredible results. [Read more…]
Good communication; the effective and efficient issue and receipt of the right information, by the right parties, at the right time, and in the right medium allowing both timely responses and decisions. It’s easy on paper and in theory but oftentimes the ‘noise’ in the communication channels are blamed for ‘bad’ communication. [Read more…]
Moving slurries about. Slurry is solid particles in a liquid. Concentration can vary from mostly liquid to mostly solid. Slurries are usually transported through pipe work using pumps, pressurised gas or steam. Different concentrations and different particulate produce different flow characteristics. Successful slurry transport requires knowledge of the particulate, its transport behaviour in the liquid at different concentrations and speeds, the nature and friction effects of the pipe work system and selection of the right motive method for the application. This article provides information for transporting slurries of up to 60% solids concentration. [Read more…]
Companies want and need to train. How do you know you are getting your money’s worth? What key elements should you be looking for? While each topic is different, some guidelines have appeared through our experience. If you want this in your training, contact us to gain the benefits. [Read more…]
Guest Post by Geary Sikich (first posted on CERM ® RISK INSIGHTS – reposted here with permission)
Risk modeling is a useful tool for business continuity managers, but over-reliance and flawed approaches can create difficulties.
Fundamental uncertainties derive from our fragmentary understanding of risk and complex system dynamics and interdependencies. Abundant stochastic variation in risk parameters further exacerbates the ability to clearly assess uncertainties. [Read more…]
Abstract
Effect of process changes on electric motors. This article explains the effect of changing process loads on AC induction electric motor performance. The motor’s behaviour is a response to the load imposed on it by the equipment connected to it. The equipment’s behaviour is itself a response to the duty and service it has to perform. Where the equipment duty and service is adjustable by the operator, or fluctuates as the process changes, the motor will react to those changes. When the changes are so excessive that they are beyond the motor’s ability to handle them the motor stops and the equipment or process stops with it. Keywords: squirrel-cage motor, overload. [Read more…]
Thirty-three years ago, I graduated as a Journeymen Pipefitter from a three-year skilled trades apprentice program and went to work as a Journeymen at Eastman Kodak. At that time in my life I had no idea where this training would take me. I was simply honored to work alongside those who in mentoring me, passed on a set of skills that would last a lifetime. [Read more…]
John Wooden often talked about the value of balance as it relates to basketball. This video discusses areas of balance in both business and in basketball.
www.PerrysSolutions.com
Cyber security risk is among the most critical risks to the supply chain:
“Cyber and data privacy breaches are perceived to be the largest threat to the stability of transport and logistics, with the sector facing potential breaches of $2 trillion by 2019.”[i]
The reality of a cyber-crime is not if, but when, and how damaging it will be. The inevitability of a cyber-attack has forced end-product manufacturers to reassess every element of the end-product manufacturer from product design, outsourcing, and servicing the product. [Read more…]
The 5 s method of operation – A Five S program focuses on having visual order, organization, cleanliness and standardization throughout the workplace and the operation. It is a structured method to put operators and maintainers in control of what they do. [Read more…]
When considering a business process improvement (or some other) initiative, we also want to communicate to motivate the right behaviors. However, initiatives often seem to use buzzwords or use titles familiar to employees that have seen such initiatives come and go (the key word being “go”).
The term “Project Management” has been overused in recent years. Many people claim to be one, but what does it mean. For us, it is a very broad and very impactful role. It covers all aspects of project execution and success. It also involves deep customer interaction. [Read more…]
Something on the Project goes wrong and is fixed – “Let’s put this down for lessons learned” goes the management mantra. But was this experience just a failing that should not have happened in the first place and relearning a previously taught, but now forgotten, ‘lesson’?
If we don’t learn then the same mistakes will be made and possible opportunities will be missed and, as Edmund Burke the 18th Century Irish Statesman said, “Those who don’t know history are destined to repeat it“. But why do we forget our lessons? Abe Lincoln said “Lessons not learned in blood are soon forgotten” reflecting that loss in some form such as money, property, or reputation, not necessarily blood, is needed to ensure that memory is ingrained and can be recalled.
Lessons that are remembered after the fact tend to add insult to injury; when you’re up to your neck in alligators you then remember that distant lesson about draining the swamp! [Read more…]
