June 22, 2006 Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF) Tip
Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF) is a common metric that has been used for many years to establish the average time between failures. Although it can be calculated in different ways, it primarily looks at the total runtime of an asset divided by the number of failures for that asset.
Total Runtime/Number of Incidents = MTBF
Tip excerpted from Root Cause Analysis 3rd Edition by Robert J. Latino, Kenneth C. Latino, published by CRC
June 22, 2006 Peter Senge's Five Disciplines
Learning Organizations five disciplines
1) Personal Mastery - is the individual’s motivation to learn and become better
2) Mental Models - are a technique that can be used to foster creativity as well as readiness and openness to change and the unexpected
3) Building Shared Vision so that the organization may build a common commitment to long term results and achievement
4) Team Learning - is needed so that the learning is passed on from the individuals to teams
5) The 5th Discipline is that of Systems Thinking which allows a person to see a systemic view of the organization as a function of its environment.
Tip from “The Fifth Discipline” by Peter M Senge
June 22, 2006 Managing Reliability Improvement – July 27th – 28th 2006 – Portland OR
A practical course addressing the integration of a range of reliability initiatives into an asset management strategy. Covers RCM, Life Cycle Costing, Root Cause, Analysis, Data Analysis and Plant Availability Simulation.
Recommended Attendees: Reliability Engineers, Maintenance Analysts, Asset Managers, Design Engineers, Plant Performance Engineers.
With simple methods, powerful software and a proven delivery approach, many of the world’s leading companies are improving business profitability with:
• Improved asset performance
• Reduced risk of catastrophic incidents
• Repetitive failures eliminated
• Lower maintenance costs
• Less plant downtime
Please call ARMS Reliability Engineers USA at (509) 928 5083 or…
June 22, 2006 Maintenance Record Tip
Place log books in waterproof boxes (if sanitation is required) locally on each machine in your plant.
Every time a tech works on the machine, they give a short description of what they did, times, and date.
This means that if the machine develops a problem that is not a simple fix, the tech working on it has an instant history of what has been done to the machine, which may help with diagnosis.
This also provides data such as maintenance costs and downtime on an individual machine basis when required.
Reader Tip provided by Simon Hancock. Maintenance Supervisor, Portion Pac Inc., Jacksonville Florida
Thanks Simon - Your Maintenance Tips hat is on the way!
June 22, 2006 Enter the Predictive Maintenance-Tip and Lubrication-Tip Challenge!
Do you have great advice that will help other predictive maintenance and lubrication professionals do their jobs better?
Enter your tip into the PdM-2006/LubricationWorld Tip Challenge and you may be a lucky winner! Winners will be announced on July 20.
To qualify please send a tip in one of the following categories:
• Vibration Analysis
• Infrared Thermal Imaging
• Airborne Ultrasound
• Motor Testing
• Oil Analysis
• Lubrication
• Contamination Control
Prizes:
1 Grand Prize PdM/Lubrication Tip: Free PdM-2006/LubricationWorld 4 Day Conference Pass, 4 nights single/double room hotel at the Chattanooga Marriott in Chattanooga Tennessee, Tip Featured in Maintenance-Tips Email newsletter as Grand Prize Winner
1 Runner Up PdM/Lubrication Tip: Free PdM-2006/LubricationWorld 4 Day Conference Pass, Tip Featured at EAM-2006 in Maintenance-Tips Email newsletter
25 other published tip submissions will be entered into a drawing for a Free Maintenance Tips hat and a PdM-2006 Conference proceedings CD
What is a Maintenance tip? A 1-3 paragraph bit of practical “how-to” wisdom that can be put to immediate use without having to purchase something.
June 22, 2006 "PdM Secrets Revealed! How to Improve Your Predictive Maintenance Program or Start One From Scratch"
Good news! Allied Reliability has released a special report for maintenance and reliability leaders.
It reveals secrets from some of the top PdM programs in the world and is written in plain English without the buzzwords. The purpose is to give you the facts you need to know in one sitting.
Nothing like this has ever been published before. It is becoming a “must-read” guide for maintenance and reliability professionals.
The best part is, it’s FREE –-- but only for a limited time!
June 22, 2006 Communications Tip
Communications - Maintenance Reporting
Maintenance ability is a delicate balance between knowing what is wrong with equipment (training)and defining what may soon go wrong (experience). Included in the communication web are workers who are in the suspect area everyday ... listening is an artform. Keep good reporting records, index cards, pda, email alerts and written reports are a must. Remember, “Successful communication is like an invention, 99% perspiration(method or attitude), 1% innovation(taking the time to make sure what you mean is transmitted by what you say!) P.S.
There is ROI in everything you say and do ... that is management outlook, commonsense may not agree with every decision.
Tip provided by Don Hall
Lexington KY
http://www.bearcreekresearch.com
June 22, 2006 Frequency Analysis Tip
When performing Natural Frequency testing, i.e., a “Bump” test, make sure that you collect a non-operating background measurement prior to your analysis. The machine or structure you are interested in should be in a non-operating condition, however other machinery may be transmitting low-level vibration to your transducer.
A clear example of this was noted during an impact test was performed on an air compressor tank as a part of a failure investigation for an OEM customer. Impact data from every location on the unit indicated a frequency peak at 1,100 CPM. Confusion over the mode that was producing this signal was resolved when a background measurement on the floor of the test cell was collected. This measurement indicated that the signal was coming from a rotating source since it included not only the 1,100 CPM response, but multiple harmonics of this frequency as well! The background “noise” was a compressor operating in an adjacent test cell over 100 feet away.
An interesting note, the amplitude of this 1,100 CPM signal was 0.0005 g’s pk. The data collected in a bump test is more sensitive than one might think! Be safe and take a background measurement.
Tip by Dan Ambre, P.E.
Full Spectrum Diagnostics, PLLC
3625 Rosewood Lane North
Plymouth, MN 55441
Phone: 763-577-9959
Fax: 763-577-5955
Web: http://www.fullspec.net/
