Search Results for: Change Management

Retaining Knowledge to Reduce Risks

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

Mens Sana in Corpore Sano (A Sound Mind in a Sound Body).

It could also be translated that quality of life is more important than the span of life, the number of years you live.

Or that medicine’s task is not to add years to your life but the life to your years.

And it might also be that such a formula for life – originally a Juvenal’s wish or prayer – is much more ancient than its Latin transcription. [Read more…]

by Fred Schenkelberg 2 Comments

8 New Topics in the ASQ CRE Body of Knowledge

Last week we reviewed the 10+ topics removed from the CRE body of knowledge (BoK). This week, let’s look at the additions.

Three of the additions are new categories or groups of topics that in part contain new topics. There are five new topics, that in most cases included bits and pieces of concepts buried in the previous BoK.

Let’s take a look at each additions in a bit more detail. Some I agree with, some I wonder what the motivation is behind the addition, and some I question why it is included. [Read more…]

by Doug Plucknette Leave a Comment

10 Things I Wish I Knew Before Entering The Working World

When I entered the working world in February of 1981 I was ready to set the world on fire, I had been hired into an apprentice program at Eastman Kodak Company in Rochester, New York and while some would recognize this as an entry level position, I was determined to make a difference in how this company operated its business. [Read more…]

Chris Jackson

Chris Jackson can help you with a range of reliability engineering issues and problems.

Chris has a PhD in Reliability Engineering and has been the Director of UCLA’s Center for Reliability and Resilience Engineering (CRRE) … so he can help you with the higher-level theory of reliability probability, modeling and statistics.

He was an officer in the Australian Army where he (amongst other things) led hundreds of engineers and technicians to support multi-million dollar fleets of equipment … so he knows how the operational management side works.

He has also consulted to many clients for many different issues … so he knows about organizational reliability management issues.

Chris has been a project manager for a number of government projects … which means he is well versed on the realities of materiel contract management. He has published multiple textbooks including Reliability Engineering and Management.

He founded UCLA’s Center for the Safety and Reliability of Autonomous Systems (SARAS … www.risksciences.ucla.edu/saras)

If you want to email Chris …

chris.jackson@acuitas.com

Chris offers a course titled Fault Tree Analysis.

Reliability doesn’t just happen. Following standards, doing what worked 10 years ago or any other approach to reliability engineering that doesn’t focus on what your system is today won’t make reliability happen.

Fault trees are great at modeling system reliability. They are one of several tools that can help you turn what you know about component or subsystem failure characteristics into an understanding of system reliability characteristics. Which lets you measure reliability.

Chris writes the Reliability in Emerging Technology series.

The only thing that doesn’t change is change itself. We are constantly exposed to new and better products, services that are more efficient, and things that generally make our lives better.

But how long will they work for? … and will they be safe?

The Probabilistic Physics of Failure Approach to Reliability book presents highly technical approaches to the probabilistic physics of failure analysis and applications to accelerated life and degradation testing to reliability prediction and assessment. Beside reviewing a select set of important failure mechanisms, the book covers basic and advanced methods of performing accelerated life test and accelerated degradation tests and analyzing the test data. The book includes a large number of very useful examples to help readers understand complicated methods described. Finally, MATLAB, R and OpenBUGS computer scripts are provided and discussed to support complex computational probabilistic analyses introduced.

Reliability Engineering and Management is a textbook that covers both the engineering and management elements of reliable systems. Reliability is an inherently complex field of study, and it is not easy to apply technically or manage practically. This textbook is aimed at both the managers of reliability teams and reliability teams themselves. Many historical catastrophes caused by human-made systems failing are caused by organizational shortcomings. Systems ranging from the Space Shuttle to the Deepwater Horizon did not fail because of a lack of understanding of the physics – they failed because of managerial decisions. So structuring the organization to ensure reliability is as essential as reliability engineering itself.

This textbook also covers the key concepts that reliability engineers need to know to undertake their jobs. It includes sections of probability and statistics (including the Weibull distribution) through to modelling (at both component and system levels). It examines the hardware, software and human domains of systems, and how they need to be considered in combination. It also covers how to assure reliability, and what Design for Reliability (DfR) activities should be employed and when (such as FMECA and RCM).

Chris is one of the co-hosts of Speaking of Reliability. Where you can join friends as they discuss reliability topics. Join us as we discuss topics ranging from design for reliability techniques, to field data analysis approaches.

Chris has a monthly series of events in the Accendo Reliability Webinar Series.

Let’s have an in-depth discussion during the live webinar series events: Reliability Engineering Basics, Statistics, Accelerated Testing, Program Assessment, and Improvement. Catch up or review past events below.

To attend an upcoming live event, visit the Live Events section of the site, which lists the available upcoming webinars. Recordings are available via recorded videos or audio only via the podcast show.

Christopher’s author archive lists contributions of articles and episodes.

Ask a question or send along a comment. Please login to view and use the contact form.

by Fred Schenkelberg 3 Comments

10+ Dropped Items from the ASQ CRE Body of Knowledge

A Review of the 2018 ASQ CRE Body of Knowledge

I just noticed the new 2018 ASQ CRE Body of Knowledge had been posted on the ASQ site. The new BoK will be in effect for CRE exams as of January 2018. Thus, we have six months to adjust to the new body of knowledge.

This is part 1 of a multipart review of the new BoK. Here we’ll look at the parts that those preparing for the exam will not have to master or review. There are 10+ topics dropped completely or in part from the BoK.

In future articles, we’ll review what has been added, what has been changed (a review), and how to best prepare for exams based on the new BoK. Plus, we can look over past BoK’s to understand where reliability engineering practice is today.

In part, the logic is these sets of tools (topics) that are not widely used by working reliability engineers. In some cases, I agree, and in others, I don’t. Let’s look at the eight topics not found in the upcoming CRE BoK. [Read more…]

by Fred Schenkelberg Leave a Comment

The Ability to Influence

The Ability to Influence Reliability Performance and Results

The role of a reliability engineer is to support the other engineers and managers as they make decisions concerning reliability.

Our ability may be well honed and effective. Or it may be fumbling or annoying. It is our ability to communicate along with our technical ability that determine our ability to influence well.

We may do analysis or testing. We follow up on failures and evaluate suppliers. What we actually are doing is influencing decisions. [Read more…]

by Steven Wachs 7 Comments

Statistical Process Control & Process Capability Course

Introduction to the Course

A little background and motivation for the material in this course.

Training Objectives

The key training objectives are summarized below:

Understand the importance of reducing variation in key characteristics
Implement control charting to assess process stability
Select appropriate control charts for a given application
Determine appropriate sampling plans and sample sizes
Interpret control chart signals and implement appropriate reaction plans
Assess process capability for new processes, relocations, process changes, and continuous improvement
Apply specialized charts when needed

6 months of access from date of purchse.

Steven Wachs, Course Instructor

Steven Wachs has 25 years of wide-ranging industry experience in both technical and management positions. Steve has worked as a statistician at Ford Motor Company where he has extensive experience in the development of statistical models, reliability analysis, designed experimentation, and statistical process control.

Steve is currently a Principal Statistician at Integral Concepts, Inc. where he assists manufacturers in the application of statistical methods to reduce variation and improve quality and productivity. He also possesses expertise in the application of reliability methods to achieve robust and reliable products as well as estimate and reduce warranty. Steve regularly speaks at industry conferences and provides workshops in industrial statistical methods worldwide.

Select the first lesson, “Coure Introduction” within Module 1 to view a course overview and recommendations to get the most from this course.

Welcome to Your SPC and Process Capability Course

If you have already signed up for the course, login and enjoy.

Lost Password? Click here to have it emailed to you.

Master SPC and Process Capability starting today.

Start the SPC / Process Capability course today

Your On-demand Course with Instructor Support

Immediate access for 6 months to all course lessons discussing concepts, reviewing procedures and flushing out context and applicability.

Plus, I’m here to support you upon request.

Lessons include text, video lectures, quick quizzes, exercises, and activities. The intent is to encourage you to immediately apply the lessons within your organization such that you can start improving process stability and quality.

How Long Will the Course Take?

This will depend on how many video lectures you view and how many of the sample exam problems you attempt. The course contains 10 modules, with a total of 67 lessons including 16 exercises. There are approximately 14 hours of lectures. You have access to the course for 6 months.

It is recommended that beyond the lectures, you plan on another 10 to 20 hours for reading and working the exercises. Plus, you are encouraged to ‘try this at work/home’ too.

You can always revisit a lesson or check a detail in the supporting student text.

What are the course perquisites?

An interest in statistical process control and process capability Or, more accurately, an interest in improving the stability and consistency of your processes.

Famarility with basic statistical concepts is not necessary for this course.

What is your return policy?

If you are not satisfied with the content, send me an email within 30 days for a full refund.

To register for the course today, click the Start Today button and gain immediate access.

Start the SPC / Process Capability course today – $999

by Fred Schenkelberg Leave a Comment

Overview of Presentations Skills

Presentation Skills for Reliability Engineers

We often present proposals and reports. We talk about the plan or results. We want funding, approval, or action. We need excellent presentation skills.

Excellent communication skills is often on job openings. It is not there by chance. Your ability to communicate well, especially via presentations is vital for your success and the success of your reliability program.

If your team, peers, or management do not understand your proposal or report when you present, few will take the time to read the material instead. Your presentation skills provide the incentive for action from your audience. Action you can guide using your presentation skills. [Read more…]

by James Kovacevic Leave a Comment

56 – Are you a Victim of Reliability Drive By with Scott Kelley

Are you a Victim of Reliability Drive By with Scott Kelley

This episode of the weekly podcast is about reliability drive by that is very common in the organizations that have multiple sites. So how often does this happen and why? What exactly is a reliability drive by? Those organizations that have multiple sites with assets or plants there with teams working there often send their reliability engineers to check the site get any information that they can get in a specified—usually very short time—and then move on to the next sites for doing the same things they did on the previous sites. This is called reliability drive by.
ᐅ Play Episode

by Doug Plucknette Leave a Comment

10 Things an Operations Supervisor Can Do To Improve Reliability

Continuing the series that started with maintenance supervisor and reliability engineers, if you are new to the position of Operations Supervisor, what are some of the things you can begin working on immediately to improve reliability within the area you work? [Read more…]

by Greg Hutchins Leave a Comment

UAV’s Coming to Your Neighborhood

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

Here in Seattle we’ve had several interesting incidents/accidents with personal UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) or drones.

In one case a person flew their UAV into the Space Needle, no damage and no one was hurt; at a parade an operator lost control and hit and knocked out a parade attendee and the operator was cited by police; UAV stuck on power lines over a lake, result – power turned off and UAV recovered at a cost of $35K and the operator was not found; and just recently a UAV was flown into the Ferris wheel on the waterfront, no damage to the wheel though a table on a nearby deck was destroyed.

In the first two of these cases the operators were identified and contacted by Seattle Police. No one has stepped forward in the third and fourth, and since the FAA database is not in place yet, the only means to track them may be through the manufacturer. [Read more…]

by Fred Schenkelberg 2 Comments

Guest Post: Why Soft Skills Are the Hardest Skills to Acquire

A Guest Post by Kay Sandberg, Christopher Harding, and Will Wilkinson of Luminary Communications

Remember that first time you were asked to step into a leadership or management role, or to manage a client relationship? The experience was probably exciting and unsettling at the same time. Something different was asked of you.

While many of us have succeeded as individual contributors or team members, succeeding as a leader or manager requires a new set of skills we have often not been given the opportunity to acquire. This applies whether we carry an official leadership responsibility or not. In a future article it would be interesting to explore the distinction between “leader” and “manager”. [Read more…]

by James Kovacevic 2 Comments

Leading & Lagging KPIs, What Is The Difference?

Using Leading & Lagging KPIs Can Make The Difference In Driving Performance, By Allowing You To See Into The Future.

This is the second part of a mini series on Key Performance Indicators. If you haven’t already please read the first post of this series on KPIs.

KPIs are often used to measure the past performance of a process, but did you know that they can be used to see into the future and predict the performance of the organization?

KPIs can be used to measure past performance, or predict future performance. This is because there is a cause and effect relationship between leading and lagging KPIs. When a process is measured, it will in turn effect another process which is also being measured, providing insight to future performance. [Read more…]

by James Kovacevic Leave a Comment

51 – The Reliability Improvement Journey with Jason Tranter

The Reliability Improvement Journey with Jason Tranter

This episode is about the reliability improvement journey of Jason Tranter who is currently the managing director—also the founder and owner—of Mobius Institute. He started his journey when vibration analysis was just in the early phase and organizations were keen to work on condition-based maintenance to have good productivity and improved availability. Reliability in the present times, depends heavily on the availability of the equipment and vibration analysis helps greatly in this endeavor to make your assets more dependable which ultimately improves reliability techniques of an organization. You want the systems to operate when you need them to operate and you make sure that they do so by improving reliability at different levels. This results in increased uptime, quality products leading to time and cost saving. The concept of reliability changes depending on the organizations but the main goal should always be to help the organizations achieve their objectives by taking measurements of running of equipment whenever needed.
ᐅ Play Episode

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