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World Economic Forum 2020 Global Risk Report

World Economic Forum 2020 Global Risk Report

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

The World Economic Forum has conducted an annual survey of its members since 2007.  This piece looks at the results of the 2020 survey of 800 members.  For the first time the survey separately reports the results of 200 members of a “Global Shapers Community”.  This group is considered a younger generation of social entrepreneurs and leaders. By comparing the response of these two groups, one can see a divergence perspective on risk.  This piece will also discuss how survey results can be overtaken by events. [Read more…]

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Are You Taking Advantage of the Opportunity?

A lot of businesses have had to make tough decisions during COVID-19, including decisions that affect their people.  Some of these decisions include cutting hours, cutting wages & lay-offs.  Throughout my career, I’ve been affected by some of these decisions.  The line that stuck with me the most, when I was being laid off by an HR manager, she said to me “this is a business decision”. [Read more…]

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Root Cause Analysis — Correlating Product and Process Variables

Root Cause Analysis — Correlating Product and Process Variables

One excellent starting point of the investigation phase of a root cause analysis is the comparison of the product measurements to the available process data. With an effective traceability system, you can define a relatively short time range in which the defective parts were manufactured. Once these “fence posts” are identified, use them to examine the available process data such as the recorded pressures, temperatures, times, and speeds. [Read more…]

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Reliability Culture

Reliability Culture

When it comes to product development, most technology companies understand the importance of reliability. In particular, the engineering teams usually have everything they need to design a reliable product, including the right testing tools and analysis methods.

At times, though, there can be problems. A product doesn’t ship on time. Or if it ships on time, it fails in the field.

[Read more…]

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Myth Busting 3: Master or Partner

Myth Busting 3: Master or Partner

Who really is our customer? Does your organization have a master: partner supplier relationship or a partnership relationship?

Consider that a customer regularly buys our goods or services. For operations/production to be our customer, then they would be paying maintenance for its service. Do they? In some organizations, this may be the case, but is it that way in yours? [Read more…]

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Home Deadly Risks

Home Deadly Risks

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

In 2004, The Home Safety Council completed the most comprehensive study ever done of the severity and causes of home injury in the United States. Not surprisingly, the rates of injury are highest among young children and older adults. While there are literally millions of home hazards that exist, the study was able to separate out the five leading causes of unintentional home injury. These five leading causes are:

  • Falls -accounts for over 40% of non-fatal accidents
  • Poisoning-carbon monoxide and cleaning agents swallowed by children
  • Fires/burns-fire in house or apartment
  • Choking and suffocation-infants suffocating in cribs
  • Drowning/submersion-moistly children in bathtubs and swimming pools

This article focuses on carbon monoxide poisoning caused by a poor furnace ventilation system. [Read more…]

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The Importance of Accurate Data for Improving Asset Reliability

The Importance of Accurate Data for Improving Asset Reliability

Data is the most valuable commodity in today’s world, and it is no different in reliability engineering. As one of the emerging trends in maintenance space, data plays a critical role in implementing an effective RCM strategy. It is powered by an organization’s ability to integrate multiple data sources into one seamless platform designed to disseminate actionable insights from that data to its decision-makers at the right time.

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3 Ways to do Reliability Allocation #5

3 Ways to do Reliability Allocation #5

This is our fifth article about the 3 ways to do reliability allocation. We have been taken on a journey through the reliability design cycle, key steps for reliability allocation, allocation factors used to get these goals and key pitfalls. Now we finish off our conversation by looking at a few variations and applications. Allocating MTBF (… though we recommend against it), allocating availability, allocating maintainability (… another thing we recommend against) and allocating for different system reliability goals.

If you want to finish off your understanding of reliability allocation – read this!

[Read more…]

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Why Reliability Needs Risk Management to Succeed

Why Reliability Needs Risk Management to Succeed

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

Most of my career was spent with the Department of Defense (DOD) industry. The many programs I worked on included a fairly difficult reliability requirement. I was taught that reliability is designed into a system. I learned that verifying a reliability requirement was done by analysis. But for the system reliability to succeed, you need to consider the manufacturing and installation of the system. This is when risk management comes into play to ensure system reliability requirements succeed. This paper explains why. [Read more…]