Blog - Accendo Reliability

The Fault with Design Freezes

The effectiveness of “Design for X” (DfX) methodology is often limited by the non-negotiable “freeze” gates in the product development process. Freezes become points of negotiation instead of directing scheduling and resource decisions. Design changes continue past “design freeze” commonly resulting in an inefficient multi-iterative process.

A design freeze is the wrong tool for the job. Design Freeze is a “Put your pencils down” methodology. This leaves no room for input to the decision to halt activity other than what was available when the freeze gate was set. Often a good deal of new information about the design and program has been created between the program creation and the freeze. [Read more…]

by Dennis Craggs 3 Comments

Test To Bogy Sample Sizes

Test To Bogy Sample Sizes

Introduction

Reliability verification is a fundamental stage in the product development process. It is common for engineers to run a test to bogy (TTB). What sample size is required for a TTB?

Reliability Testing

Reliability is the probability of a part successfully functions under specified life, duty cycle and environmental conditions. Many functions are specified during the design process. Each reliability test will be focused to validate a specific function. The targeted verification level depends on the criticality of the function and potential failure modes. The life could be specified as a count of cycles, an operating time, or perhaps a mileage or mileage equivalent. The duty cycle is a description of how the device is used. Environmental stresses are generally included in the test.

[Read more…]

by Perry Parendo Leave a Comment

Coaching and Learning for Engineering and Basketball

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…]

by Christopher Jackson Leave a Comment

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…]

by James Kovacevic Leave a Comment

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…]

by Robert Allen Leave a Comment

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

[Read more…]

by Mike Sondalini 1 Comment

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.

[Read more…]

by Greg Hutchins 1 Comment

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…]

by Adam Bahret Leave a Comment

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:

[Read more…]

by Doug Plucknette 1 Comment

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…]

by Perry Parendo Leave a Comment

Coaching in Business Problem Solving – Radio Interview

This radio interview combines the principles of business problem solving and basketball coaching. [Read more…]

by James Kovacevic 1 Comment

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…]

by Mike Sondalini Leave a Comment

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…]

by Greg Hutchins Leave a Comment

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…]

by Robert Allen Leave a Comment