At the same time we are providing “the extra hand” or “the extra eye”, we [...]]]> Frequently, the press of unexpected maintenance events presents the need for “an extra hand” or “an extra eye”. While we can provide that kind of support, we can also provide a level of support that goes well beyond those simple expectations.

At the same time we are providing “the extra hand” or “the extra eye”, we can do so while providing a level of expertise in the areas of reliability management and maintenance excellence that is second to none. In doing so, we can help identify opportunities both within the current situation and in future situations that may be harvested by taking the appropriate action in a timely manner.

Day-to-day maintenance support means fitting in and doing whatever is needed. Identification of long-term opportunities requires asking the questions, “Why was that support needed? Was it something that is a chronic need? Or is it a once in a lifetime issue?” While you don’t hire help to second-guess your every request, you should know if there is a long-term need that is going unfilled.

It is important to have resources available who have “been there and done that” without having to remind your personnel of that fact at every turn. You need knowledgeable help without having to listen to all the endless war stories.

In this context, we use the term technical [...]]]> In our experiences, we have found that solid reliability depends on solid engineering. While reliability analysis typically goes many steps beyond the forms of engineering analysis needed to provide technical assurance, it is impossible to achieve good reliability without first having achieved the elements of technical assurance.

In this context, we use the term technical assurance to describe the kinds of engineering analysis, quality control and quality assurance, engineering testing and record keeping needed to make sure that all basic supporting elements are in place. For instance:

• Is your organization properly monitoring the various forms of deterioration?
• Is your organization addressing key integrity issues during initial design?
• Is your organization addressing key integrity issues during modifications?
• Is your organization addressing Non-obvious forms of degradation?

Occasionally, our clients ask us to assess how well these integrity based issues are being addressed by their organizations. Instances of each extreme have been found. In situations where current staff is not familiar with basic concepts, we can assist in ensuring proper resources are applied.

While we can perform the various [...]]]> Frequently individuals who attend our workshops indicate they would benefit from an extended engagement on-site at their facility to assist staff in applying the subjects covered in the workshops. We have tailored support aimed at making our clients proficient in any of the areas included in our suite of offerings.

While we can perform the various functions for you, we have found it both more effective and more satisfying for the client it we work with your personnel to instill the skills. The objective at the conclusion of our consulting engagements is to leave the skills with the client’s personnel, so they are able to handle similar problems without further assistance in the future.

Our objective is to obtain repeat business …. but not for the same problem as our first engagement. We hope you want us back to help you on another, different problem.

We have assisted satisfied clients in:

• Setting up plant-wide and corporate wide Reliability Management programs.
• Setting up plant-wide and corporate wide Maintenance Excellence programs.
• Organizing Planning and Scheduling around new or existing CMMS’s.
• Improving Turnaround Planning both at a plant and corporate wide level.
• Integrating Failure Mapping elements into their failure response system and their CMMS.
• Conducting Reliability (Wide-Hart) Audits at both a plant and corporate wide basis.

More information on [...]]]> The following courses are available to be given at the client’s site or another site of the client’s choosing.

• Reliability Management
• Maintenance Excellence
• Planning and Scheduling
• Turnaround Planning
• Failure Mapping
• Wide-Hart Audits

More information on schedule availability.

Read [...]]]> This article, also published through the skf website, provides an explanation of the elements that contribute to reliability over the entire lifecycle of a device.

Read the article.

Read [...]]]> The first article published through the SKF website provides an explanation of the “Path to failure” and how understanding that path will support understanding of cause and Failure Mapping.

Read the article.