May 11, 2006
Vibration Analysis Tip
WATERFALL PLOTS
Vibration waterfall plots are a very good analysis tool to identify changes in equipment condition. Waterfall plots can reveal the development and progression of specific equipment failures. Also, waterfall plots can be used to show management the progression and severity of identified faults.
Tip provided by LUDECA, INC.
ALIGNMENT * VIBRATION * BALANCING
http://www.ludeca.com
Tel: 305-591-8935
May 11, 2006
Two-Day Lean Maintenance Workshop – by Ricky Smith
Ricky Smith, experienced reliability expert and renowned author of the book ‘Lean Maintenance’ invites you to attend his latest two-day workshop. Take your Maintenance organization to the next level –implement Lean thinking in Maintenance. Ricky’s insightful, dynamic and engaging teaching method will help you learn the fundamental principles of this powerful concept. Learn how to implement “Lean” through a simple approach, focused on reliability.
Attend this workshop to:
• Bridge the gap between Lean Manufacturing and Lean Maintenance
• Learn how to achieve Lean Maintenance, step-by- step
• Participate in interactive group activities to build Asset Reliability Programs with Lean thinking, including the 5 S’s of Lean Maintenance
• Capture valuable best practices for Lean Maintenance and review Lean Maintenance Metrics
Don’t miss this opportunity to attend Ricky’s next Lean Maintenance workshop, June 6 – 7, in Phoenix, Arizona.
May 11, 2006
Motor (VFD) Testing Tip
With the increase in use of Variable Frequency Drives (VFD’s), and increased machine uptime expectations it helps to have a few tricks in the tool box. When confronted with a faulted drive, make your usual visual inspection for obvious defects to the associated equipment if nothing is notable is found disconnect the motor leads from the drive, reset the fault and enable the drive, if the fault reappears with no load the the drive needs to be repaired/ replaced. If the drive ramps up normally then the problem is with the motor or wire run, with the wires disconnected at the drive the drop can be tested quickly. If the drop shows good replace the motor. I have had 100% success with this method.
Reader tip sent in by Mike Lynch, United States All Trade, Harvard Illinois
Thanks Mike - Your Maintenance Tips Hat is on the way!
May 11, 2006
Which KPIs are Leading and which are Lagging?
A simple way to remind yourself if a KPI is leading or lagging is to ask yourself the question “Am I looking into the maintenance process measuring this KPI or am I outside of the process looking at the results?
Process measures are Leading Indicators. They monitor if the tasks are being performed that will ‘lead to successful results’. For example a leading maintenance process indicator would measure how proactive the planning function was in preparing preventive maintenance work packages or to monitor the percentage of condition inspections completed per schedule. If people are doing all the right things then the expectation is that results will follow. The leading process indicators are typically more immediate than lagging results measures. It is the leading indicators that management must manage by.
Result measures are Lagging Indicators and occur after the fact. They monitor the output of a process. Maintenance lagging indicators include maintenance cost (as a contributor to total operating cost), asset downtime due to planned and unplanned maintenance (as a contributor to availability) and number of failures on assets (the measure of reliability: this can then be translated into mean time between failures). Results measures lag and thus cannot be directly managed.
Tip provided by Al Weber
Ivara
Toll Free: (877) 746-3787 ext. 312 (North America only)
Tel: (905) 632-8000 ext. 312
May 04, 2006
Steam Traps - Thermography vs. Ultrasonics
We are starting to think about creating “steam trap” rounds. Initially, it was thought that Thermography might be the best choice for this. But I’m wondering if Ultrasonic might be a better choice, especially for those traps that are accessible without ladders.
I would be interested in your experiences with either or both of these technologies use on steam traps.
Post a reply at MaintenanceForums.com (free registration required)
May 04, 2006
Alignment Tip
I have seen during many walkdowns where too many shims have been utilized to make vertical corrections, sometimes as many as 10. When this many shims are used a condition referred to as spring or squishy foot occurs.
Rule of thumb is no more than four (4) shims to be used under any foot. Replace multiple thin shims with single-thickness plates. Imperfections in the shims (too many) can cause the spring or squishy foot at the rate of approximately three mils per shim.
Reader tip provided by Carol Pettit, PdM Engineer, TVA, Madison, Alabama
Thanks Carol - your Maintenance Tips hat is on the way!
May 04, 2006
An EAM trade-in offer that will set you free
The inefficiencies of your current EAM solution really have you pinned down. Worse yet, high costs coupled with annoying migration issues leave no wiggle room for future upgrades.
Let Avantis set you free. For a limited time only, trade in 50% of your current EAM software licenses for the Avantis EAM solution. FREE. Take advantage of this offer for a fast and low risk move to Avantis.
May 04, 2006
Reliability Reporting Tip
Use the “alt-PrtScrn” keys when assembling information from many sources to speed up report generation. I now use PowerPoint as my “scratchpad” for all report generation because of the picture tools and word processing functions available and the picture cropping, contrast and lighting controls in this software package and dump all my infrared scans, digital pictures, current logger results, offline and online motor test results along with a slide of the work order as they all come from different software packages.
These reports are easy to email to one and all, file for future use, and to easy to update with “after repair” test results including a copy of the completed work order, all in one nice package, ready for instant showing anywhere, whether it be at work or a major reliability conference. Which, by the way is where I picked up this little morsel!
Award winning tip provided by our good friend Jim Zuidema, Electrician, Alcoa, Bettendorf Iowa
Make Plans to see Jim’s Presentation at PdM-2006 - The Predictive Maintenance Technology Conference
May 04, 2006
Maintenance Benchmarking Tip
Benchmarking and Best Practices
Xerox defines benchmarking as follows: To search for industry best practices which lead to superior performance.
To understand this definition completely we must first be clear what is meant by best practices. They are practices that enable a company to become a leader in its respective marketplace. However, Best Practices are not the same for all companies.
For example, if a company is in a declining market, in which the pressures are to maximize profits with a fixed sales volume, one set of best practices might allow market leadership. However, if the company is in a growth mode with profits dictated by gaining rapid market share, a different set of best practices would be appropriate. Therefore, BEST is determined by business conditions, not by a fixed set of business practices.
From Benchmarking Best Practices in Maintenance Management by Terry Wireman, Published by Industrial Press
May 04, 2006
SMRPCO 5 for 50 Rewards Program
The SMRPCO Board of Directors has approved a rewards program for submission of candidate CMRP exam questions. The “5 for 50 Rewards Program” has been established for calendar year 2006 to encourage anyone (SMRP member or not) to submit valid questions that may be added the CMRP exam question “bank.” The basic reward for five (5) valid questions submitted is a US$50 gift card useable worldwide. Alternative awards may also be chosen, such as a US$50 credit against CMRP recertification fee or receipt of a SMRPCO golf shirt and baseball cap (which have a combined value of about US$50).
Progressively more valuable awards are also offered for submission of additional candidate questions. For example anyone submitting eight (8) acceptable questions during 2006 will receive a US$100 gift card or combination of two US$50 rewards. Ten (10) valid questions can earn rewards totaling US$140.
Questions submitted to meet requirements for 3 year recertification as a CMRP are also eligible for rewards.
