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A Business-Based Approach to Developing an Effective Program
by Krzysztof (Kris) Goly
Over the last decade, there has been a general consensus throughout the industry that modern maintenance and plant asset management require the implementation of predictive maintenance techniques. In most instances, predictive technologies are implemented in the form of a Predictive Maintenance (PdM) Program. PdM programs are designed and implemented through various approaches. This article presents a business-based approach that has been utilized successfully by Siemens throughout the world and across various industries.
A Closer Look at Air Gap Eccentricity
by Douglas E. Swinskey & Peter M. Bechard
The first step in evaluating test data is understanding the relationship to the circuit's Fault Zones and how abnormalities in a specific Fault Zone affect the performance of the motor. The six Fault Zones (Power Quality, Power Circuit, Stator, Insulation, Rotor, and Air Gap) are derived from the most common electrically related motor failures in industrial environments. The Air Gap Fault Zone describes the measurable distance between the rotor and stator within the motor. Air gap eccentricity is a condition that occurs when a non-uniformity in the air gap between the rotor and stator exists.
A Cradle to Grave Approach - Motor Management at Its Best
by Noah Bethel, CMRP
Ask a motor manufacturer how long one of its motors is expected to live, and the response will be something like, "20-plus years in the right environment." Ask the same question in a facility that uses such a motor and the answer is more likely to be, "If we get five years out of it, we'll be happy!" Why does this discrepancy exist? Why do motors die of an infant mortality instead of living to the ripe old age for which they are designed and built? The answer has to do with the failure to optimize motor management and maintenance.
A Day in the Life of a Proactive Maintenance Planner
By Ricky Smith and Jerry Wilson
"Without Proactivity in this Process, Chaos Will Dominate"
A Day in the Life of a Proactive Maintenance Supervisor
A Daily Planner for Effective Maintenance Supervision
By Ricky Smith CMRP
Maintenance supervisor updates equipment status and production/operation changes.
A Day In the Life of a Proactive PdM Technician
By: Ricky Smith and Carey Repasz
Beginning of the Maintenance Shift and Unplanned Work:
The day begins with the PdM technician reviewing any equipment that has been repaired or replaced in the past 24 hours. If any equipment has been changed or repaired, the PdM technician will identify specific failure modes for the work completed and conduct follow-up inspections of repairs for the purposes of QA/QC, confirming that the defect has indeed been removed and that no new defects have been introduced as a result of maintenance activity.
A Look into Pulse Theory And Why the Walls of Jericho Fell
An excerpt from the book Vibration Spectrum Analysis by Steve Goldman P.E.
This author has spent many years lecturing to different groups of people who were interested in spectrum analysis for problems ranging from detailed physical tests of cavitation phenomena to philosophical questions about why the walls of Jericho Fell. Often, a very simple explanation involving pulse theory has sufficed to explain some of the observed phenomena. This excerpt is designed to give the reader food for thought rather than quantitative answers.
A New Activity Matrix - Why Being Proactive is No Longer Enough
by Phillip Slater
It was about ten minutes before anyone noticed the smoke. The wiring had been heating up since the most recent planned maintenance activity. Apparently, the electrician didn't quite tighten up the joint and hadn't properly cleaned away the built up dust. The result was a hot joint and this heat quickly spread into the cable. The casing began to smoke and by the time the smoke was noticed the cabinet was actually on fire.
A New Era: Wear Particle Analysis/ Ferrography
By Raymond J. Dalley
Wear particle analysis, or ferrography, is a technique that is growing everyday. With industrial needs for reliability and higher productivity to compete in the world market, techniques such as wear particle analysis become vital in making diagnostic and specific recommendations regarding potential machine problems.
A New Opportunity for the Maintenance Reliability Community
By John S Mitchell
A new term has risen above our horizon. It is being embraced by companies committed to being the best and has great interest and cachet at the highest executive levels. Further, it states a clear objective that must be achieved to remain successful in today's fiercely competitive industry. The question is whether we, the, maintenance reliability community, will embrace the term, recognize its ability to mandate broader activities that are absolutely essential to achieve and sustain real success, and utilize the principles to gain value and results that really matter.
A Proven Electric Motor Regreasing Program
By Jerry S. Honeycutt, Tennessee Valley Authority
One of the most asked questions of grease lubricated motors is, what is the correct interval to regrease the bearings? This is usually followed by two questions, 1) how much grease should be added? and 2) what is the correct method for grease addition?
A Quick Reference For Preparing A Change Management Plan
Change Management is an inherent element to any quality, productivity or improvement project, and represents modifications to the "way of living" inside a Company; as a consequence, it needs to be handled in a strategic manner. During my experience as consultant and key user of many diverse kinds of projects, I have found that there are many useful materials for assisting us in understanding this key responsibility. Nevertheless, most of the time we need to spend a quantity of time and resources to understand and combine this concept with project planning and implementation.
A Shortcut to Higher Efficiency
Adding Short Repairs to PM’s
by Joel Levitt
Have you ever thought about building in short repairs to your PM schedule?
A Tough Diagnosis - The Saga of the Never Ending Problem
by Greg Davison
You are often told that there is never just one problem with a machine. My very first vibration class taught me that a phase and magnitude vector was a combination of all the vibration from all of the forces acting upon the machine. Likewise, a spectrum also contains all of the frequencies from all of the forces acting upon a machine. So, it is never just imbalance, or just misalignment. It is always some combination of many forcing frequencies. This is precisely why wall charts and cookie cutter solutions do not always work. What follows is a story of multiple problems of mythical proportions.
A Vision of Enterprise Reliability
Looking Into the Future of the Industry
by Dennis Belanger
What is the ultimate vision for enterprise reliability? If you’re like me, occasionally you find yourself drifting off into a day dream. One of the recurring day dreams I’ve been having for the last 10 years involves this question. I often lapse into deep thought, pondering, “How is all of this reliability and maintenance stuff supposed to work?

- February 28
Motor Electrical Predictive Maintenance and Testing Training - March 19
RCM-2012 Reliability-Centered Maintenance and Root Cause Analysis Conference - April 17
Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) and Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) Summit - April 24
Asset Operations Excellence Master Class and the Manufacturing Game - May 1
Focused Change Management for Reliability Initiatives and the Reliability Game - May 15
AM-2012 Asset Management Forum - June 5
CBM-2012 Condition Monitoring and Predictive Maintenance Forum - July 23
Infrared Level I Certification Course - October 3
Maintenance Strategy Master Class Level 1 - October 9
Focused Change Management for Reliability Initiatives and the Reliability Game

- GPAllied Inspired Training: Hard-Hitting, Impactful Courses and Workshops.
- MRO Inventory and Purchasing Books
- Total Productive Maintenance Books
- R300S for When Good Enough – Isn’t Enough!
- Reliability Centered Maintenance for SAP Plant Maintenance
- Commtest - Affordable Vibration Analysis
- Belt/Sheave Alignment Laser, Custom Shim and Gaskets
- Job Postings for Maintenance and Reliability Professionals
- New AT33IND Perfect for QC & Troubleshooting
- Join The Association For Maintenance Professionals
- IR Windows: Compare and Save with Exiscan
- Motor Testing Books
- Reliability Engineering Services

- Things to think about (and do) in 2011
- Reliability Polls and Quizzes
- Risk Calculation Methodology
- Understanding & Comparing Risk
- Preventing Mechanical Failures - An Introduction to Failure Mode Identification
- Stress: The Silent Killer - Part 1 of a 2 part series
(2) - The Continuous Journey
- Reliability Quiz - MRO Storeroom Quiz
- Championing SAP Plant Maintenance at Your Organization
(1) - Q&A with the 2011 Uptime Award Winners
- Reliability Polls and Quizzes
- Things to think about (and do) in 2011
- Electric Motor Bearing Greasing Basics
(4) - Asset Management: concepts and practices
(8) - CBM 2011 Video Proceedings
(2) - Reliabilityweb.com 100 Top Web Sites
- Maintenance of Hydraulic Systems
(2) - Aerial Infrared – An Asset Management Tool for District Heating System Operators
- Root Cause Failure Analysis Web Workshops
- Things to think about (and do) in 2010
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