Articles

Find all articles across all article series listed in reverse chronological order.

New Series – The Quality of FMEAs

“Quality is not act. It is a habit.” – Aristotle

This month will begin a new series of articles on the quality of FMEAs, part of the Inside FMEAs series. The series will provide insights and application tips for evaluating how well an FMEA meets quality objectives. The intent is to create FMEAs that add value by accomplishing the objectives for FMEA, not filling out a form.

What is an FMEA Quality Objective?

We’ll begin with definitions from the Oxford English dictionary. “Quality” is defined as “the standard of something as measured against other things of a similar kind; the degree of excellence of something.” “Objective” is “a thing aimed at or sought; a goal.”

Building from the above definitions, FMEA quality objectives are specific goals or aims that measure the degree of excellence of an FMEA. [Read more…]

by JD Solomon Leave a Comment

How the Bottom Fin of the FINESSE Fishbone Diagram Improves Big Decisions

Communicating related to big decisions is a long game. Many presentations involving uncertainties and changing information will be made over months if not years. The FINESSE fishbone diagram provides the seven essential elements for effective communication for big decisions. Playing on the theme of a fish, a fish’s bottom fin provides it with stability. Let’s explore the bottom fin of the FINESSE fishbone diagram.

[Read more…]

by Semion Gengrinovich Leave a Comment

Six Sigma In 9 Minutes

Six Sigma gives you the tools and techniques to determine what’s making the manufacturing process slow down, how you can eliminate the delays, improve the process, and fix further issues along the way. It is a methodology that has seen worldwide adoption. This video also provides detailed examples on how each of the two Six Sigma methodologies work. The example we’ll be considering is how a car manufacturing company is able to achieve its goals with the help of the Six Sigma methodologies, DMAIC and DMADV.

[Read more…]

by nomtbf Leave a Comment

How Did Reliabilty Become Confused with MTBF?

When Asking for Reliability Information, Do You Ask for MTBF?

Our customers, suppliers, and peers seem to confuse reliability information with MTBF. Why is that?

Is it a convenient shorthand? Maybe I’m the one confused, may those asking or expecting MTBF really want to use an inverse of a failure rate. Maybe they are not interested in reliability.

MTBF is in military standards. It is in textbooks, journals, and component data sheets. MTBF is prevalent.

If one wants to use an inverse simple average to represent the information desired, maybe I have been asking for the wrong information. Given the number of references and formulas using MTBF, from availability to spares stocking, maybe asking for MTBF is because it is necessary for all these other uses. [Read more…]

by Mike Sondalini 2 Comments

List of 600+ Centrifugal Pump Failure Modes and How to Prevent Pump Failures

Prevent centrifugal pump failure modes starting by removing their failure causes and make your pumps highly reliable.

There are over 600 failure causes that will make a centrifugal pump set fail. How many of them apply to your operation?

A rather interesting insight happens when you first look at this spreadsheet listing over 600 failure modes in a centrifugal pump set—there are so, so many of them. Luckily you have a second, hugely more profound insight once you realise what you are up against.

[Read more…]

by James Reyes-Picknell Leave a Comment

Are we ready for Maintenance of the future? AI, ML and IIoT

In April 2024, Fracttal Tech S.A. featured our Principal Consultant, James Reyes-Picknell, delivering a seminar on the future of maintenance using the Industrial Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. The online seminar, presented in English with Spanish sub-titles, was well attended, and a recording has been published by Fracttal on YouTube. You can watch it here (the actual seminar content begins at 8:14 into the video)

[Read more…]

by Greg Hutchins Leave a Comment

How to Manage Risks During New Product Development

Guest Post by Dianna Deeney (first posted on CERM ® RISK INSIGHTS – reposted here with permission)

New product development engineers are managing risks, daily, with each design decision: unknown risk in creating something new, risk introduced through a failure, human factors risk, and other risks related to products and services. Their design decisions affect downstream activities (from production through disposal) and the bottom-line success of the product in the market. How can engineers manage these risks through the design process?

Proactively managing risks can be an iterative part of product design engineering. Risks can be managed at the early concept phases of development when changes to the design are easier to make. Finding and addressing risks also helps the team to avoid surprises late in development and after the product has been released to the market. The results are not only managing risks but also managing the design process for a more successful product.

[Read more…]

by Hemant Urdhwareshe Leave a Comment

Hypothesis Testing: Part-7 One and Two-proportion tests

Dear friends, we are happy to release this seventh video in our series on hypothesis testing. In this video, Hemant Urdhwareshe explains the applicability of proportion tests, procedure to perform these tests and interpretation of results. The concept is explained with application examples. Do let us know your feedback and subscribe if you like!

[Read more…]

by Joe Anderson Leave a Comment

Creating a Departmental Plan: Your Roadmap to Success

In any organization, departmental success is key to overall success. To achieve this, it’s essential to have a clear roadmap that outlines your department’s goals, priorities, and strategies. A departmental plan serves as this roadmap, guiding your team towards success and ensuring alignment with the organization’s objectives. In this blog, we’ll explore the importance of creating a departmental plan and provide a step-by-step guide to help you create one for your team.

[Read more…]

by Nancy Regan Leave a Comment

What Decisions Can RCM Help You Make?

Join me, Nancy Regan, on the rocky shores of Key Largo as we explore the concept of nurturing our equipment through Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM). In this video, I draw parallels between the discomfort of laying on a rocky beach and the consequences of neglecting equipment maintenance. RCM not only guides us in establishing proactive maintenance plans but also in determining necessary actions like preventive and condition-based maintenance tasks, equipment redesigns, or modifications to operating procedures. Dive into the practical aspects of RCM with me and discover how to make your equipment as comfortable and reliable as a perfect beach day.

[Read more…]

by JD Solomon Leave a Comment

How the Top Fin of the FINESSE Fishbone Diagram Improves Big Decisions

Big decisions require months or years to make, which makes communication associated with them a long game. The FINESSE fishbone diagram provides the seven essential elements for effective communication for big decisions. Playing on the theme of a fish, a fish’s top fin provides it with direction. Let’s explore the top fin of the FINESSE fishbone diagram.

[Read more…]

by Ray Harkins Leave a Comment

Troubleshooting Guidelines for Unacceptable Gage R&R Results

For engineering, quality and manufacturing professionals, the accuracy and precision of measurement systems are essential. Gage Repeatability and Reproducibility (Gage R&R) studies provide a formal method for evaluating measurement system variation. And when the results of a study indicate that the gage is unacceptable, it’s a signal that something needs to change. But how should you approach solving the problem? This article provides a detailed guide to systematically troubleshoot and improve your measurement system when your Gage R&R results fall short of expectations. [Read more…]

by André-Michel Ferrari Leave a Comment

Equipment Maintenance Terminology Simplified

Introduction

This article is a highly simplified overview of Equipment Maintenance Strategies. Its objective is to categorize the types of maintenance approaches for the lay person. Sometimes, explaining the basics using simple terminologies, initiates dialogues with others that are outside of our field of expertise. And as such improve collaboration between teams. How about making this accountant who somewhat controls the maintenance budget, understand what maintenance is really about? On the other hand, that same accountant can educate us on their work practices.

[Read more…]

by Semion Gengrinovich Leave a Comment

Test Design for Component Life

Designing a proper test for the life of an electromechanical component involves several steps and considerations. Here next steps proposed to do:

Step #1: Define the Test Objectives: Clearly outline the expected functions and specifications of the component. Identify potential failure modes and criteria. This step is crucial to ensure that the test is aligned with the design specifications and customer requirements of the electromechanical device.

[Read more…]

by Mike Sondalini Leave a Comment

Selecting a Depreciation Rate for Plant and Equipment

The depreciation rate for equipment varies depending on the operational situation of the asset and the tax laws that apply to your company. The depreciation rate is more an accounting decision than an engineering one. The engineering aspect in the depreciation rate for equipment choice is deciding how long is the operating lifetime for an equipment item.

—

I want to know how we calculate the value for the depreciation rate of equipment. Want is done on other industrial sites, we apply an depreciation rate of 8 percent per year?

[Read more…]