Reliable Plant July 2007

"Get your motor runnin'. Head out on the highway. Lookin' for adventure and whatever comes our way . . ." - lyrics from Steppenwolf's 1968 classic song "Born to Be Wild" The Harley-Davidson...

Yesterday, you were a happy camper. Today, you are told that your maintenance cost (MC) as a percent of your estimated replacement value (ERV) is 4.9 percent. According to Consulting Inc. and your...

Having a formal scheduling method should improve wrench time dramatically. Formal scheduling answers the question "How much work should we do next week?" Scheduling is a matter of control. The...

Alternating-current (AC) and direct-current (DC) motors have traditionally served distinctly different applications due to their construction and inherent operating characteristics. In general, AC...

In all manufacturing companies, it goes without saying that there are problems. The work of leadership should be to create an environment that enables and supports problem-solving at the lowest...

I've performed a significant number of lubrication surveys and audits in every conceivable industry, from food production to steel mills, cement plants to pharmaceutical manufacturers. While the...

My last two columns have explored the five stages that condition-based maintenance programs go through as they grow and mature - starting with Level 1 plants that do very little CBM and moving to...

Recently, I had one of those breakthrough conversations with a client. As we talked about his company's workforce plan, he came to the realization that they were going to suffer more than necessary...

While attending a recent conference, an industrial leader told me that he was impressed by Cargill employees' focus and attention to the details of maintenance and reliability processes. I was...

From an operational perspective, the primary goal of the materials management organization in a maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) environment is to provide unflinching material support to...

This article is the second in a series on the marriage of lean and overall equipment effectiveness. Read Part 1: Lean and OEE Partner to Reduce Waste Brian Kenny, the plant manager of Paulco...

To secure the reliability of critical company assets, parts and equipment must be protected from corrosion. During machine operation, oil is circulated or splashed to ensure additives are well...

The imaginary company depicted in the picture on Page 52 of Reliable Plant’s July/August issue is doing some redecorating in their reception area. They’re also about to celebrate an employee’s...

In addition to the predictable theme of improving the efficiency and effectiveness of industrial plants and facilities, last year’s Society for Maintenance & Reliability Professionals conference in...