Your Reliability Engineering Professional Development Site
Today’s Gremlin – It’ll never work here is the first one we’ll deal with. We’ve all run into him at one point or another. “It’ll never work here” is someone, or many, who has / have been around for a long time. This is one of the many gremlins we talked about when we introduced this series of articles.
[Read more…]
In today’s industrial environment, the efficiency and reliability of maintenance operations are crucial. This is where Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS) and Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) systems come into play. These systems are designed to manage the maintenance function by tracking maintenance work, parts used, failure codes, and more.
[Read more…]
Implementing a CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management System) or EAM (Enterprise Asset Management) system can be a complex process fraught with challenges. However, organizations can effectively navigate these hurdles with the right strategies and tools.
[Read more…]
In the dynamic world of modern manufacturing and industrial processes, the reliability and performance of equipment play a crucial role in ensuring operational efficiency and product quality. Dosing pumps, essential for precise fluid control, are no exception. As industries increasingly embrace digital transformation, predictive analytics has emerged as a powerful tool to enhance the monitoring and maintenance of dosing pumps. This article delves into how predictive analytics can be used to monitor dosing pump performance, improving reliability, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.
[Read more…]
In this episode of The Asset Performance Podcast, host Wim Vancauwenberghe speaks with AI and reliability engineering expert Tom Rombouts of I-care Group, on how AI can support rather than replace human expertise in maintenance. Rombouts explains “human-centric AI” as technology designed to work alongside people, enhancing human strengths like strategic vision, ethical judgment, and creativity. AI excels at analyzing large datasets to predict potential equipment failures, but the real value lies in combining AI’s analytical power with human insight for nuanced decision-making in maintenance and reliability.
Rombouts also addresses the challenges of AI adoption, stressing the need for cultural and organizational readiness to integrate AI effectively without overwhelming teams. Traditional methods like Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) can be enhanced by AI, making them more dynamic and data-driven, while indispensable human skills in complex problem-solving, leadership, and change management remain essential. AI, he argues, should be seen as a partner that frees up human workers for strategic and value-driven tasks, helping companies achieve sustainable growth by harnessing the combined power of human and artificial intelligence.
Here is a simple checklist of 31 simple maintenance management tips that you can use to improve your operation. Use it as a guide to start you thinking which maintenance management improvement strategies to use to lower your maintenance and operational costs without spending a lot of money.
[Read more…]
Leaders often initiate change. They are expected to develop a vision for their organization (what we want to become) and create a mission (how we are going to get there). This implies that leaders are dissatisfied with the current state and are motivated to work towards a better future.
[Read more…]
When conducting a Human Reliability Assessment (HRA), we use the terminology errors of commission or errors of omission. It behooves every professional to question why we focus on one metric in preference to all others in an objective and constructive manner in order to discern whether we are exposing our organization to errors of professional omission or commission. The other conclusion is that we are doing the right thing and this is also an empowering piece of knowledge.
What does it mean to be a ‘visionary leader’? It starts with being different to most people. You can’t just become a visionary leader by completing a leadership course, being mentored by someone awesome, or by compiling an impressive curriculum vitae (although these can help people with the potential to become visionary leaders get there).
One of the first things that the then United States Army Chief of Staff (General George C. Marshall) did at the outbreak of World War II was to fire the majority of his officers who had climbed the ladder of military ranks throughout the previous 20 years of relative peace.
Ask a question or send along a comment.
Please login to view and use the contact form.
Steve is an experienced Maintenance & Reliability professional with experience in organizational leadership, project development, & change management. He is the host of the podcast “Fire Forged Leader”. Â Fire Forged Leader serves it’s listeners by exploring leadership lessons while talking to successful leaders in all areas of life. Check it out on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fire-forged-leader/id1621708130
The following is an excerpt from The Process of Reliability Engineering, a book by Carl S. Carlson and Fred Schenkelberg. This is a searchable list of cited references in the book along with hot links when available. Our intent is to continue to update this list and links especially for the chapters 11 and 12 on building credibility and influence skills.
[Read more…]
The utility had an excellent opportunity to implement a green initiative. Energy could be created from excess digester gas at the wastewater treatment plant. There seemed to be a full range of feasible options after an engineering analysis.
“We can convert the gas and use it to either heat the building or reuse it to make the wastewater treatment process more efficient,” explained the chief engineer. “it is a 10- to 15-year payback, but the regulators love it so it is easy to get approved. It will buy us some goodwill too.”
“Can we reduce the payback if we sell the energy to the electric grid?” asked the chief financial officer.
[Read more…]
This interview focuses on product design from a marketing viewpoint, including sales and commercial operations.
“A Talk with Cross Functional Experts” is a Quality during Design interview series. Our focus is speaking with people that are typically part of a cross-functional team for new product development. We discuss their viewpoints and perspectives regarding new products, the values they bring to new product development, and how they’re involved and work with product design engineering teammates.
Today we speak with Laura Krick, a VP for a global medical device manufacturer (who has, since our interview, been promoted to Chief Commercial Officer – congratulations!). She’s involved in marketing, sales, and commercial operations for new product development.
We talk about these topics:
Listen to a Chat with Laura. Gain a different perspective and get actionable advice.
The Leadership Connection Host, Doug Plucknette, interviews reliability leader Andy Page in Episode 30 of this series.
Andy Page has more than 28 years of experience in the fields of maintenance and reliability, with deep asset management experience attained through designing, teaching, and improving the reliability of manufacturing and processing plants throughout the United States and Europe.