Philip Sage — Active Contributor

Co-host of Speaking of Reliability.

This author's archive lists contributions of articles and episodes.

About Philip Sage

Philip is a CMRP – 40 years of Industrial Reliability Experience, Quality Management, Operations, Leadership and a noted book author. Philip leads The Mantua Group - an Asset Management and Reliability consultancy and is based out of Australia and works with multicultural teams globally helping them innovate and deliver maximum value . As a Global Talent and Subject Matter Expert (SME) he has been called upon to perform design audits for large corporate projects, and helped other teams achieve reliability centric Operational Excellence. Today he supports the delivery of optimized (RCM) Reliability Centred Maintenance Strategy delivery and trains engineers globally.

He has taught RAMS at the masters level for 10 years for Central Queensland University and is also working on his doctorate thesis adapting Weibull Analysis and merging Asset Health indices to predict upcoming capital renewals (REPEX) budgets for Australian Energy Regulator utility submissions.

He is currently using AI methods to integrate and analyse very large datasets (7 million rows at times) to predict asset performance.

He has served many posts. This includes 3 years in Northern China as the design architect of a large green field manufacturing plant and 2 years supporting Asian Reliability Engineers. Along the way Philip has trained in multiple languages and learning cultures.
He has designed training that works. He has enabled the maintenance planner using.
 High Precision Planning or (HPP) for the complete materials management with the kit up function interacting with graphical scheduling of individual scheduling and craft qualification tracking. Philip has advanced the use of most top ERP systems including deploying machine performance prognostic health monitoring with a novel performance measurement called the Reliability Performance Index or (Rpk). Philip has enabled Root Cause Failure Analysis (RCFA) using automation to initiate a RCFA analysis and track the open action items. Philip has designed novel Asset Health Monitoring scorecards that included predictive testing and inspection results recording against national and international standards.

Over his global career - Philip has worked extensively with advanced teams in the United States, Europe, The Middle East, Sub-Sahara Africa, South East Asia, China and Australia/New Zealand.

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SOR 1175 Got a Chamber? So…

SOR 1175 Got a Chamber? So…

Got a Chamber? So…

Abstract

In this episode of the Podcast, Fred Schenkelberg and Philip Sage explore the importance of aligning test methods with real-world reliability problems rather than defaulting to familiar tools or pre-existing equipment. Through anecdotes from industry experience—including discussions on environmental chambers, vendor testing standards, and engineering challenges in fields like automotive, petrochemical, and aerospace—they highlight the pitfalls of conducting tests that fail to answer the key questions about product reliability. The hosts emphasize the necessity of defining the problem, selecting meaningful test conditions, and ensuring that test outcomes inform critical design or business decisions. Their conversation underlines a central message: possessing a tool or capability does not justify its use unless it serves the reliability objectives at hand, encapsulated by the recurring theme of conducting “the right test at the right time.”

Philip and Fred discuss Testing and over testing.
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SOR 1174 Right Tool at the Right Time

SOR 1174 Right Tool at the Right Time

Right Tool at the Right Time

Abstract

Philip and Fred discuss a common challenge in reliability engineering: using the right tool—not just the one you’re most comfortable with.
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SOR 1132 AI & Reliability Use

SOR 1132 AI & Reliability Use

AI & Reliability Use

Abstract

Philip and Fred discuss a few ideas around using AI for reliability work.
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SOR 1040 Getting it Right

SOR 1040 Getting it Right

Getting it Right

Abstract

Philip and Fred discuss the value of precision maintenance.
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SOR 1039 Competing Risk or Not

SOR 1039 Competing Risk or Not

Competing Risk or Not

Abstract

Philip and Fred discuss the considerations when the dataset does not have competing risks.
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SOR 988 Difference Between Quality and Reliability Statistics

SOR 988 Difference Between Quality and Reliability Statistics

Difference Between Quality and Reliability Statistics

Abstract

Philip and Fred discuss some of the basic differences and similarities between these two types of statistical toolsets.
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SOR 987 Dealing with Missing Data

SOR 987 Dealing with Missing Data

Dealing with Missing Data

Abstract

Philip and Fred discuss a few challenges and approaches to deal with missing data.
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SOR 982 High Precision Planning and Maintenance

SOR 982 High Precision Planning and Maintenance

High Precision Planning and Maintenance

Abstract

Philip and Fred discuss new shiny objects and why digital twins and IIOT will not solve your core problems.

High Precision Planning (HPP) supports High Precision Maintenance (HPM) which is a program running in elite industries today.

The emphasis on HPP is an absolute requirement to achieve HPM.

The benefits of achieving HPM have been demonstrated to be an improvement up to 250% in first-pass quality.
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SOR 981 Asset Management vs Performance

SOR 981 Asset Management vs Performance

Asset Management vs Performance

Abstract

Philip and Fred discuss the important differences between Asset Management “Systems” and “Asset Performance”. Philip has been teaching at the university level for over 10 years as an industry expert and has concluded that adherence to Asset Management System and certification does not equate into great asset performance. There is a very big disconnect between the asset performance of those organizations who are actually certified in asset management systems like ISO 55000. If you have a good Asset management “System” in the industry today it does not guarantee that you will have great “Asset Performance”.

Why ISO “management systems” like ISO 9000 and ISO 55000 and ISO 14000 are not well suited to produce top “Asset Performance”.

ISO is after all – a self-confession – “say what you do – then back it up with documentation to prove you do what you say!”

Why is poor asset performance possible form certified organizations? Why is top performance in an industry occuring where organizations are not certified to ISO 55000? Why do digital twins fail to deliver?

Remember – “the pursuit of Performance is the only thing that makes you Excellent!”.
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SOR 953 Robustness

SOR 953 Robustness

Robustness

Abstract

Philip and Fred discuss the idea of a robust design for a product or system.
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SOR 952 Vintage Experience

SOR 952 Vintage Experience

Vintage Experience

Abstract

Philip and Fred discuss the value of the experience our co-workers may be able to share.

How important is Mentoring in the Workplace? Should we all be mentors?
How do we collaborate with a cross functional team that is built through the many generations and Leveridge the experience and foster the growth of a recent addition to your workforce.
How do we build a team and best advantage the walking encyclopedia? Coporate knowledge and Cross pollination of great ideas through effective collaboration techniques.
What techniques are best to merge grey haired knowledge with the arrogance of youth?
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SOR 911 Dealing with Data

SOR 911 Dealing with Data

Dealing with Data

Abstract

Philip and Fred discuss the first basic steps when confronted with a pile of data.

What do you do with a stack of data – can you make any sense of this – please? Can you believe the analysis results?
Designing systems to capture the data you need, not the data you have. 🙂
How do you work with less than perfect failure information?
What happens when we mix end of life data with functional failure data – when do we “informatively censor” and how do we treat this type of data?
Interwoven life renewal data and asset failure – how do we “see” missing data?
Deploying the Reliability Performance Index (RpK) – how to adapt Statistical Process Control topics (SPC) Reliability.
What is Integrated Process Control (IPC), Key Input Variables (KIV) and Key Output Variables (KOV)?
What is an Asset failure? How to manage data from our CMMS or ERP system – how to deal with data sets with only replacement events?
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SOR 909 Assumptions and Analysis

SOR 909 Assumptions and Analysis

Assumptions and Analysis

Abstract

Philip and Fred discuss a fundamental element of all statistical analysis.
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SOR 842 Working on the Right Things

SOR 842 Working on the Right Things

Working on the Right Things

Abstract

Philip and Fred discussing what should reliability engineers be working on that are the right things.
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SOR 841 Expectations

SOR 841 Expectations

Expectations

Abstract

Philip and Fred discussing how setting expectations impact reliability engineering tasks and results.
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