Create Action From Data Analytics
Manufacturers are finding ways to gather, analyze, and use data analytics to solve problems before they happen and drive upgrades in uptime and quality. There was a time, not so long ago, when...
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Unleash Modular Production Power
Manufacturers are calling and modular, multi-tasking, plant-floor problem solvers are delivering in a big way. By Nuzha Yakoo, Festo The development and application of modular production systems (MPS)...
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Doing The Right Work Right
By Drew D. Troyer, CRE, Contributing Editor Many debate what’s more important: knowledge or skills; theory or application; and learning inputs or outcome. These pairings, though, are often considered...
View ArticleReliability Determines Reporting Structure
Q: To whom should maintenance departments report? A : The answer is typically engineering or operations, but usually because it’s always been done that way. Ideally, maintenance-organization structure...
View ArticleConsider These Cost-Saving Tips
Looking for cost savings in your operations? Steve Brand of California Manufacturing Technology Consulting, Torrance, CA (cmtc.com), says there are better ways than cutting personnel or creativity...
View ArticleOptimize Schedules, Maximize Output
By Dr. Klaus M. Blache and Dr. Javad Seif, Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville Reliability and Maintainability Center (RMC) An assumption in traditional production-scheduling practices is that assets will...
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Manage STO Risk
By Drew D. Troyer, CRE, Contributing Editor A shutdown, turnaround, or outage (STO) is critical to plant reliability. A smooth one restores the plant’s reliability and enables trouble-free production...
View ArticleFit Wireless Tech To Your Needs
Wireless technology used to move asset-performance data can determine what you analyze, reliability of results, and sensor life. Much has been written about the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT),...
View ArticleImprove Through Culture Change
When I visit and/or assess plants, the largest roadblock to improvement that I encounter continues to be a need to improve culture. When enterprises experience success in this area, it usually comes...
View ArticleManage Maintenance Planning Expectations
What should you expect from your maintenance planners? Focused on the right activities, they can make work execution much more productive at your site. In fact, according to Roger Corley of Life Cycle...
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Take Risk Out Of Full Scale Projects
Pilot plants demonstrate the feasibility of proposed process technologies for real-world operations. De-risking has always been the driving force behind pilot plants and that force is as strong, if...
View ArticleIt Begins, Ends with Leadership
Recently I was invited to offer input to a senior manufacturing executive (responsible for numerous facilities) on how they should improve their reliability and maintainability (R&M). In...
View ArticleTwenty Reasons To Stop Firefighting
One of the most effective steps you can take to have a positive impact on all areas of your business and your ROI (return on investment), is to minimize reactive maintenance. Here are twenty reasons...
View ArticleIs Your Sky Falling?
Q: Is your maintenance process beyond the tipping point? A : To answer this, it’s important to understand the concept of “tipping point.” When the tipping point of a system is crossed, negative and...
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Swim Lanes Improve Reliability
It’s important to clarify what best practice looks like, especially in complex processes. That includes succinct and clear roles and responsibilities that can be easily followed. This is key to...
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Develop An Operational Excellence Program
By Jon Sillerud, Uponor North America According to the Institute for Operational Excellence, North Kingstown, RI (instituteopex.org), OpEx incorporates continuous improvement into a holistic approach...
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First Annual Culture Awards Winners
The Reliability of Everything Culture Improvement awards recognize outstanding organizations in three categories. Culture is critical. A case could easily be made that it’s the most important aspect of...
View ArticleDevelop An Operator-Maintenance Partnership
Q: What is the role of the operator in reliability and maintenance? A: Although TPM (total productive maintenance) has been around for more than 25 years, very few companies have implemented Autonomous...
View ArticleCatalog Your Assets
By Rick Wheeler, Life Cycle Engineering When companies want to develop or improve their asset-management program, it’s quite common for them to discover they don’t have an accurate list of the assets....
View ArticleControl Wastewater Treatment
These systems provide the versatility you need to effectively treat wastewater. By Tim Hanna, PRAB Wastewater treatment has become an increasingly critical part of plant operations over the past...
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