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Articles: Predictive Maintenance and Condition Monitoring Management
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 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 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?
Air Liquide Breaks Down Condition Monitoring Information Silos
Originally presented at Reliability 2.0
In an industry where it is not uncommon for companies to allow individual mills or plants to maintain their own autonomous condition monitoring operations, Air Liquide chose to go down a different path when it announced that it would partner with Azima DLI to manage all of its plants across the United States. The contract was one of the largest in the condition monitoring industry and indicates a growing trend for leading companies to instill consistency within their operations as opposed to allowing their own mills or plants to compete against each other.
An Overview of Remote Machine Condition Assessment
by John Bernet
Fifty years ago, when labor costs were relatively low compared to operating expenses, managers found that they could simply use more staff to cover the increasing demands of maintaining plant machinery.
Audit Forms for Predictive Maintenance Program Assessment
Audit Forms for PdM Program Assessment
Benchmarking a Better Understanding
Benchmarks Shed Light on Maintenance & Reliability Perceptions
by Klaus M. Blache, PhD
This interesting study compares data collected in 2008 to data collected in 1991 to chart the trends in reliability and maintenance over the last 17 years.
CBM 2011 Video Proceedings
Watch the CBM2011 Video Proceedings online!
Choose Your PdM Partners Wisely
Or Discover Another Reason Why PdM Programs Can Fail
by Alan Friedman
Whether you are considering starting a new program, revamping a dead one, outsourcing or looking for someone to become a long term partner to step in when needed and step back when not needed, make sure you pick the correct partner.
Combining In-House and Outside Laboratory Oil Analysis
By Garry Sands
Most companies rely on outside laboratories to analyze there time-based oil samples. Every six months, or perhaps once per year, oil samples are gathered and sent out for routine time-based analysis. So, for instance, we will be able to say a certain hydraulic reservoir has been sampled every six months, or once yearly, and then we at least know the condition of the oil at that point in time.
Commtest Podcast: Predictive Maintenance and Condition Based Monitoring, Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow
Commtest Podcast: Predictive Maintenance and Condition Based Monitoring, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow with Terrence O'Hanlon, CMRP, Publisher of Reliabilityweb.com and Uptime Magazine and Mike Howard, Manager, Director of Customer Success for Commtest Inc.
You can listen to this 15 minute audio podcast via streaming by clicking the arrow (requires speakers or headphones) below or you can download the MP3 audio file for your iPod, Blackberry, Smartphone or other portable audio player.
Condition Monitoring Case Study
#15 Air Compressor (a Joy TA-85 centrifugal) is a large, very expensive, but highly efficient unit that has proven to be very reliable over the years. A centrifugal compressor typically has a much lower cost of compressed air relative to screw and reciprocating compressors, but centrifugals are unforgiving and operation and maintenance must be performed in a very professional manor as seemingly small mistakes can have huge or catastrophic consequences.
Condition Monitoring Performance Objectives: Key to Improvement
Certification of vibration analysts has been one of Canadian Machinery Vibration Association's (CMVA) functions for many years. Questions remain, however:
- how can a person prepare properly for a certification exam?
- how can a course provider design and teach a course in preparation for an exam without having access to the exams that will be offered?
- how does a prospective student even know what he needs to know or what kind of course to seek out?
- how does an employer decide who to hire for a particular set of condition monitoring tasks?
Performance objectives are the answer. This paper will define them, show how they apply to the condition monitoring business, relate them to the ISO 18436-2 standard on which we base our certification, and show how they can be useful in related situations. It will also describe the procedures used to develop the ones CMVA uses.
Diagnosing Rotor Bar Issues with Torque and Current Signature Analysis
by Drew Norman
Over the years rotor bar problems have been a diagnostic challenge for motor maintenance professionals. Now with current signature, spectral torque analysis and automated computer diagnostic software, defining rotor health problems has been made fairly simple. However, problems arise when professionals do not understand the underlying principles of the what’s, whys and how’s of dynamic rotor testing.
Estimating Failure Avoidance Costs
By Michael Cook and Michael Muiter
Predictive Maintenance (PdM) programs bring value to an organization by detecting potential failures and determining how to correct them before the failure can occur.
Many PdM programs are under-resourced or abandoned because the return on investment (ROI) generated by PdM groups is not obvious to management. If PdM programs are measured by their ability to avoid failures and the resulting failure avoidance costs (FAC) are quickly and accurately calculated and reported to management, the ROI will quickly become evident. Additionally, using the results of these savings from each predictive technology, i.e., vibration analysis, oil analysis, thermography, ultrasonic leak detection, etc., a determination can be made to decide if the technology is properly applied and if the frequency of inspections is appropriate to produce the highest possible ROI.

- 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


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