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If one could get the right mix of preventive maintenance (PM) and corrective maintenance (CM), things might not be so bad. If CM could be reduced to zero, that would be grand, but that is not going to happen. Amid the propositions of RCM, TPM, RCA, the Pareto rule, best laid plans, etc., one still must contend with randomness. When our programs result in high levels of performance, the limiting factor is often randomness. Using the concept of randomness in analyzing equipment failure events is helpful in establishing the realistic limiting factors in PM and CM program development and management.

Before getting enthused about understanding the technical milieu of equipment failure modes and causes, failure intervals and maintenance task development in recovering a dysfunctional maintenance program, first look for an opportunity of a large reward for a small resource expenditure.

One large reward, for example, could be a 50% reduction in corrective maintenance resulting from a program developed and implemented in-house (small resource expenditure). That 50% number is not unrealistic.

The latest Moduflex family of products from Parker Hannifin, the world

Penloc Thread Lockers, Penloc Retaining Compounds and Penloc Structural Adhesives are essential tools in any engineers tool box. Eurobond Adhesives Ltd offer a range of high performance anaerobic and 2-part toughened acrylic  bonding solutions that are specifically designed for the engineering & maintenance sectors.

Penloc ZT Threadlocker is a low strength thread locker that is a yellow acrylate designed to work in temperatures ranging from -55

The latest editions of The Electricians Guides are now available from Technical Training Solutions.
The specialist knowledge of the staff at Technical Training Solutions is also available in a range of reference books. We produce and distribute two books which started life as course notes for our wiring regulations (C&G 2381) and inspection and testing (C&G 2391) courses. Pocket sized for ease of use, they cover the subject areas in an interesting and informative way, without unnecessary technical theory.

The books are written by experts in their fields in an easy to understand language and are complemented with drawings and illustrations.

THE ELECTRICIANS GUIDE TO GOOD ELECTRICAL PRACTICE
An indispensable reference book for help and guidance on the 16th edition of the IEE

When Sovereign Lubricants & Seals were approached by a major UK nuclear power generation provider to supply an anti-seize for use on site to prevent stress corrosion cracking of stainless steel alloys and for use as a general grease for maintenance use there was no hesitation in recommending an immediate solution to this age old problem.
 
Sovereign (who sell the ΩMEGA range of quality lubricants) sell a product called ΩMEGA 99N which is a nuclear grade anti-seize grease. "The difference" says Sovereign M.D Steve Chesters "is that normal greases and anti-seize compounds contain high levels of sulphur, chlorides, lead and halogens which can cause stress and corrosion cracking of stainless and nickel alloys . ΩMEGA 99N is different in that it contains virtually no contaminants and as an added bonus it withstands acids, alkalis, water, salt air and most chemical fumes. The product can be used in many industries such as Oil, Chemical and Natural Gas Refineries as well as Chemical Plants and Pulp and Paper Mills, in fact anywhere where corrosion takes place

By David Larner CEng. Technical Training Solutions

With the accountants having the loudest voices in the board room these days, engineering training managers often find it very difficult to be heard because it is hard to put a value on training. In this article Technical Training Solutions (TTS), the Kent based Skills Company makes a case for short, practical courses that concentrate on competence.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) such as Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) is something accountants understand.   TTS has an extensive client list that includes companies such as Northern Foods, Glaxo Smith Kline, Rivita and Rolls Royce. They all agree that a well trained asset care team will always make a positive impact on OEE - that does improve the bottom line operating costs.

The fundamental problem all training managers face is what form of training is needed. Training is expensive, fact. But the cost of ignorance is much higher, so no one should even begin to consider what the cost of the wrong training might be.

We change a lot of oil in our plants, mills, mines and factories. What are we doing to change our lubrication culture? In their book Learning to Fly, Collison and Parcell, employees of British Petroleum (BP), suggest a predictable pattern in achieving sustained culture change, which is a function of effort and time (Figure 1).

Lower-quartile performers operate in a state of "unconscious incompetence" - ignorance is bliss. It takes no effort and no time to exist in the state of unconscious incompetence. They perform poorly, and because they are unaware of it, there is no perceived need to change. When a manager or other influential member learns through some minimal effort that there is a better way to operate, the performers become aware of their shortcomings, which creates a perceived gap. Collison and Parcell call this gap "conscious incompetence." It is this new awareness that throws a wrench (spanner) in the works, forcing the organization to correct its deficiency or make a conscious decision to live with it.

 

 

Seaward Electronic has developed a new integrated testing solution to ensure the safe condition of workplace electrical equipment and appliances.

The new Advanced PATSolutions package is designed to enable electrical contractors, maintenance engineers and plant service teams the opportunity to work smarter, improving productivity and effectiveness.

The Advanced PATSolutions package is intended for those electrical engineers and contractors that have an electrical safety testing responsibility in larger workplaces where a computer-based records system is required, alongside the automatic tagging and labelling of appliances after testing.

 

Calibration is an essential element of any instrumentation maintenance program. However, calibration operations can be long and time-consuming. By using the Beamex