In here, We discuss different problem solving techniques, tools and experiences.
by Dane Sullivan
[Read more…]Reliability U Podcast
A place for like-minded reliability and maintenance professionals to come together and share stories
by Brett Scott and Adam Lunt
[Read more…]Relia-nomics – When Reliability meets Economics
In an increasingly complex and interconnected world, ensuring that systems—from machinery to software, from power networks to consumer products—perform reliably across their intended lifetimes, is essential not only for safety and quality but also for economic viability. This intersection between ensuring dependable performance and managing costs is broadly studied under what is known as Reliability Engineering and Economics. Or Relia-nomics.
[Read more…]Why Human Factors Matter in Reliability and Maintainability
For reliability engineers, numbers can be our comfort zone. Predictions, modelling, analysis and results, work that is rigorous, data-driven, and essential for complex systems – but does it always tell the full story?
Recently completing Level 1 of the CIEHF Cross-Sector Learning Pathway has led me to consider system reliability in a different light. Technical performance alone does not guarantee success and to truly understand reliability, we must also account for the human component – the operators, maintainers, and decision-makers whose actions are inseparable from system outcomes.
[Read more…]Why Fix Your Asset Management Program When Replacement Asset Values Are Missing
Asset management for facilities and infrastructure has fallen into the leadership realm of gearheads and data managers. The result is asset management programs that are years (or decades) and hundreds of thousands (or millions) of dollars into their programs and still cannot produce realistic replacement values for their assets.
Too Much Time in the Wrong Places?
Does it matter that we have spent most of our attention on asset management systems, GIS integrations, condition assessments, and preventive maintenance programs? You bet it does. And you may have put too much time in the wrong places. [Read more…]
Data Scientist vs. Reliability Engineer
In today’s data-driven business landscape, two roles have emerged as critical to improving company strategy through data analysis and system optimization: data scientists and reliability engineers. While these roles have distinct focuses, they share common skills and often work together to drive organizational success. This article will explore the similarities and differences between data scientists and reliability engineers, highlighting how their skills complement each other in day-to-day activities and contribute to data-driven decision-making.
[Read more…]What is Reliability?
Guest Post by Martin Shaw
In today’s complex product environment, becoming more and more electronic, do the designers and manufacturers really understand what IS Reliability ??
It is NOT simply following standards to test in RD to focus only on Design Robustness as there is too much risk in prediction confidence, it only deals with the ‘intrinsic’ failure period and rarely has sufficient Test Strength to stimulate failures. [Read more…]
Cohen’s Kappa: Measuring Agreement Beyond Chance
Attribute inspection is one of the most widespread and difficult-to-control measurement methods in manufacturing. Whether inspecting machined surfaces for cosmetic defects, checking weld quality, reviewing molded parts, evaluating assembly completeness, or using go/no-go gauges, many operations depend on human inspectors to make subjective judgments. [Read more…]
Business Risk Hierarchy
There is a direct connection between the microstructure health of your equipment parts and your operational and business success
There are key concepts and practices that an organization needs to use if they want optimal asset health from their plant and equipment. The greatest successes come when operating and safety risks are eliminated at their root causes. The Plant Wellness Way EAM methodology focuses on getting lasting asset health so world class operating performance is normal in your company day-after-day. Its processes and analysis tools create a system-of-reliability that gets exceptional asset health and delivers the greatest ROI from each operating asset throughout its service life.
Risk is the total losses suffered when any asset’s components may fail. The causes of failure are the environmental and operating stresses that affect a component’s microstructure. This means that world class reliability is the effective, complete remove of the causes of failure, also known as risks, from your operations. [Read more…]
Is Your Project Ready for Operations?
Is your project ready for operations when you want to start up? Can you commission and start up with ease and expect to reach full and steady production quickly? Or is your experience with project start ups more chaotic?
Chaos is natural
Conceptually, entropy is a scientific measure that represents that natural state of everything – chaos. The more chaotic things are, the more entropy they have. We tend to prefer things orderly and predictable. To achieve that we add energy, but without it, we will have chaos. If start ups after a capital project are chaotic, it means you have missed something. Think of it as not having enough energy. That energy is fore-thought and preparation. With it, your project is ready for operations.
Manufacturers: Stop Pushing the Easy Button
Guest Post by Matt Feldman (first posted on CERM ® RISK INSIGHTS – reposted here with permission)
I get it, we all love the “easy” button. Whether it’s ordering groceries for delivery today, household items for delivery tomorrow, or a ride to the airport via a tap on your phone, we’ve gotten used to convenience and simplicity when it comes to solving problems.
[Read more…]What Are Failure Effects in RCM? Understanding the Importance
In this video, I dive into the concept of Failure Effects and why they’re important to the Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) process. A Failure Effect tells the story of what would happen if we did nothing to predict or prevent each Failure Mode, allowing us to properly assess the consequences and formulate the right maintenance strategies. I break down the essential components of writing a Failure Effect, including:
- A description of the failure process from the occurrence of the failure mode to the functional failure
- Physical evidence that the failure has occurred
- How it adversely affects safety and/or the environment
- How it affects operational capability
- Specific operating restrictions as a result of the failure
- Secondary damage
- What must be done and how long it takes to repair the failure.
Understanding this zero-based approach is key, even though it can feel counter-intuitive to RCM Working Group members who are used to managing equipment proactively. That’s why an experienced RCM Facilitator is essential to guide the process. I also share an example of a Failure Effect in the video—feel free to pause and read through it.
[Read more…]Why Weibull?
What if you don’t have lifetime data??
I searched the Internet for “Why Use Weibull Reliability?” and got 196 hits “similar sites omitted”. Some hits looked like they were generated by Chat GPT. None showed data. None told how to test or use Weibull reliability estimates. Many sell Weibull software. All require lifetime data.
Assuming a continuous, parametric distribution such as Weibull conveniently extrapolates limited, censored lifetimes to estimate MTBF, even though MTBF may be far in the future. Https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weibull_distribution lists many uses for Weibull distributions. A client had me use Weibull to model durations of covered calls!
[Read more…]System Reliability Quiz and Durability Case Study
Dear friends, we are happy to release this 101th technical video on system durability estimation! The first part of the video describes the quiz. Viewers are expected to try to solve it on their own before watching the second part of the video where we have illustrated the solution using Excel.
[Read more…]Eliminate Defects & Unlock Reliability in Your Operation
Defects slow you down, cost you money, and wreak havoc on efficiency. It’s time to change that! In this video, George Williams breaks down Defect Elimination. Defect Elimination is a building block in the Operational Reliability domain, part of the Maintenance and Reliability Best Practices Framework.
⚙️ Identify defects early
⚙️ Take swift action to remove them
⚙️ Improve product quality and plant capacity
Stop reacting. Start eliminating. Watch now and take control of your operation’s reliability! Want to implement Defect Elimination in your operation? Contact us today! Let’s work together to improve your plant capacity and efficiency: www.reliabilityx.com/contact
[Read more…]