August 28, 2008
The Little Black Book of Reliability Management at MRO-Zone.com
The Little Black Book of Reliability Management provides the reader with a fresh but comprehensive perspective on the subject of reliability management. This unique resource is perfect for individuals working in plants and in other organizations that are dependent on the reliability of complex physical assets.
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August 28, 2008
Here’s a “heads up” on ATRA-FLEX couplings
We had a problem with a fan using an ATRA-FLEX M2 coupling. I had a conversation with Tony, ATR Sales, inc.
The distance between hubs on our machine measured 0.050”. The installation instructions call for 0.075”. Tony stated that with any misalignment, using a smaller gap will squeeze the insert causing it to create significant axial vibration. It is better to be wider than narrower.
Reader tip provided by Jon McFadden
Predictive Mechanic
Conway Personal Care Facility
Conway AR
Thanks Jon - your stainless steel, diamond plate, Reliabilityweb.com coffee mug is on the way!
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August 28, 2008
Infrared Window Safety Tip
It is a mistake to expect any infrared window to protect a thermographer in the event of an arc flash incident. Simply put, if a blast is powerful enough to blow holes in steel panels, how can a thin piece of crystal or reinforced plastic be expected to protect workers?
The fact is that no IR window can carry a universal “arc rating,” and any claims to the contrary are negligent and dangerous.
So what is the purpose of an infrared window? To provide the means for “closed-panel inspections” which facilitate safer, more efficient infrared electrical surveys by eliminating the increased risk of arc triggers associated with removal of panels for an open-cabinet inspection.
Tip provided by IRISS
http://www.iriss.com
August 28, 2008
Balancing? LORD has made it simple
Online monitoring if 1X vibration couple with Active Balancing Technology. Keep your critical machinery running at low vibration levels…
August 28, 2008
Maintenance Management 201 Tip
Tip 4 - You have to have procedures for performing maintenance
When one considers the wide variety of equipment encountered in the average industrial facility and the variety of tasks performed on that equipment, it is surprising to realize that, in most organizations, few procedures exist for maintenance and repair. Most organizations depend on “skill of the craft”, memory, or (even worse) an “educated guess” to determine the technical details required, such as clearances, torque values, tolerances, belt tensions, and the like.
Studies have shown that a high percentage of “infant mortality” failures occur in the absence of detailed written procedures. Equipment does not perform to standard or experiences a failure soon after startup. These can only be due to mistakes and errors made during maintenance or repair. These errors are not the craftsperson’s fault; failing to provide the necessary resources to enable quality work to be done is the fault of management. Even the most talented craftsperson does not have an infallible memory!
Ideally, maintenance procedures should be developed by the Planning function. In creating these procedures, it is natural to want to avoid inserting too much detail to avoid “insulting” the craftsperson’s intelligence. Rest assured that it is not an insult to make technical specification details available, nor is it an insult to spell out the proper steps to complete the job in the most expeditious fashion. In fact, the vast majority of crafts people would appreciate having the information available to do the job right the first time!
Tip provided by Bruce Hawkins
MRG
http://www.mrginc.net
iPresentation Tutorial Invitation: Maintenance 201 – More of the Basics
August 28, 2008
Balancing and phase analysis tip
Three birds - one stone
The job of capturing phase data for analysis or balancing has been made easier by the use of laser tachometers and similar instruments.
They can, or have replaced the standard strobe light method which required synchronizing the strobe firing rate to the shaft speed and then adjusting the firing angle to a specific reference point.
In a single operation, a laser tachometer emits a beam of light toward a piece of reflective tape on the shaft and determines rotational speed and reference angle by timing the pulses from the reflected beam.
One key element of this process is applying the reflective tape to the shaft. This simple task is the source of much aggravation in the real world.
Three common problems are:
1) It is difficult to make the reflective tape adhere to shafts that are oily, rusty, wet or dusty
2) finding the reflective tape with the laser and getting a good return signal from a new and very shiny shaft surface
3) separating the backer paper from the reflective tape - especially with cold fingers!
A few turns of black electrical tape applied around the shaft -sticky side out- will eliminate all three problems. It will keep the reflective tape firmly attached to the shaft (without having to peel off the backer paper) and serves as a mask so the reflective tape will be clearly visible - to the eye and the laser. Since the sticky side is out, the black tape can be easily removed with a single slice of a knife along the axis of the shaft.
Reader tip provided by Pete Castillo
Field Service Technician
Kirby Risk Mechanical Solutions and Service http://www.kirbyrisk.com/MSS.cfm
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Join the Balancing discussion group at MaintenanceForums.com
August 21, 2008
Pre-Conference Certificate Workshops at PdM-2008
Predictive Maintenance Technology Conference
September 15-18, 2008
Qwest Center
Omaha, Nebraska
• PdM Managers’ Workshop - by Jack Nicholas Jr., CMRP
• Bearing fault detection: Three keys to great results by Jason Tranter
• Save Energy - A 3 Part Workshop on becoming a Greener, Leaner Company by Howard Penrose PhD, Paul Klimuc and John Snell
• How to Develop Proactive Key Performance Indicators by Ricky Smith,
• Leveraging the “Visibility of your PdM Program” at the Corporate Level by Carl Schultz
• Basic Failure Analysis Techniques by Neville Sachs
• OMA 101 - Oil Monitoring Analysis Seminar by Jack Poley and Michel Murphy
To register for or learn more about PdM-2008 please call one of our friendly conference specialists toll free at (888) 575 1245 or…
August 21, 2008
Maintenance Tip
Status Boards
When I served in the US Navy on board a ballistic missile submarine, the use of status boards was invaluable. I have adapted that concept and used it to help me and my staff keep track of 78 roof top units, 6 Liebert units, various compressors, boilers and countless other pieces of equipment. Along with a CMMS system, these boards gives us an overview of the equipment status within our 2.8 M sq ft facility.
I have added information, such as when the last state inspections were held, last time a major PM was performed, results of PM per equipment, and even tallied how many work orders have been created on each of our boilers (justification for replacement).
Using audio visual marker, we can use different colors to indicate different meanings. We have a section for notes, so when a call comes in we can quickly take notes, which has aided in troubleshooting.
So however you create your, I recommend adding a something to indicate when the board(s) were last updated, which is helpful to know if you have current data or not.
Reader tip provided by Mike Milenovic
Manager, Facilities Services
Eddie Bauer
Groveport OH
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August 21, 2008
Planning and Scheduling in SAP
What if you could get a daily maintenance schedule out in minutes rather than hours? What if you could use one interface to interact with both SAP and your other business applications? What if there was a way to get all of your maintenance information into one interface? What if you regained ownership of your business process?
You are invited to a special recorded presentation
August 21, 2008
Leadership Tip
Welcome Stress!
Your heart begins to race; you can feel the rush of adrenaline. As your palms perspire and your mouth goes dry, you feel the butterflies in your stomach. You are keenly aware that this is the moment you have prepared for. You gaze upon the crowd and see that all eyes are watching you with anticipation. After a deep inhale and a slow exhale you begin…
The person who is sharp, mentally focused, and able to deliver a killer presentation and the athlete who performs better in competition than in practice can tell you that stress can be used to one’s advantage. On the field or in the boardroom, stress can become our ally. Moderate levels of stress help us get out of bed in the morning, give us motivation, and supply us with the drive to complete a difficult task. Stress can provide us with inspiration for performing our jobs well. In fact, a lack or inadequate amount of stress can cause a person to feel depressed.
Cavemen depended upon these physical reactions to stress in order to survive. When confronted with anything that posed a threat, the body’s reaction to stress allowed the cavemen to be more alert, focused, and ready to fight or flee. It is this survival response that we still feel today when faced with stressful situations. Stress can be useful in numerous ways.
Engineers test a material’s strength by applying stress. During testing, the engineer is able to find the material’s weak spots. These weak spots can then be reinforced to make the material stronger. Similarly, cardiac stress tests measure the heart’s blood flow during exercise (stress) as opposed to during periods of rest. Doctors are able to detect some types of heart disease—weak spots in the heart muscle—after a patient undergoes stress testing. In nature, continual wind on a tree can cause it to become very strong.
This ever-present stress forces the tree to stay grounded, dig deep, and remain firmly planted in the ground.
Whether it is just enough to keep us motivated, or strong enough to expose our weak spots, stress can give us opportunities to improve ourselves.
Tip excerpted from Welcome The Rain: Choosing to See Beyond Life’s Storms by Michelle Sedas
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