Condition Monitoring/Predictive Maintenance

by Abayomi Carmichael CEng MBA BEng, Bermuda Electric Light Co. Ltd. There is an abundance of data supporting the effectiveness of RCM in a broad range of industries. Yet when staff at the Bermuda Electric Light Co. Ltd researched RCM, precious little data was found regarding its application to a primarily large diesel driven power utilities. The company subsequently decided upon a PMO (Planned Maintenance Optimization) based approach with aggressive targets and timelines. 20% increase in productivity. Chop downtime in half. Deliver this within 1 year. All in unproven territory.

Pinpoint Laser SystemsÒ is introducing the new Pinpoint Proline Alignment Kit - a visual laser system for checking and measuring straightness, flatness, squareness, parallelism, leveling and many other tasks.  This kit combines the features of a transit, an infinitely long straightedge and laser alignment system all in one compact, portable, versatile product.  Precision laser alignment for production, maintenance, and plant engineering projects, both large and small, has never been so easy.

IRISS Inc. announces that Arby Dickert has been promoted to America’s Sales Manager.  “Arby joined IRISS in January, 2010 and he was hired for a strategic sales position due in part to his expertise in the Condition Monitoring and Reliability Maintenance Industry which made him a very desirable candidate for the sales position we had open at the time.  In a very short time, Arby has proven that “hit the ground running” is what some people say they will do, but which he actually did.  It is Arby’s passion and aptitude for learning the Infrared market as well as his previous experience managing a mature and successful sales team, that perfectly position him for this promotion to America’s Sales Manager,” said Martin Robinson, CEO and founder of IRISS, Inc.

Topics to include Asset Life Cycle Costing; Condition Monitoring, Prognostics, and Health Management; Expert Elicitation in Reliability Modelling; Human factors in Maintenance; Information, Communication, and Al in Maintenance; Integrated Maintenance and Supply Chain Management; Modelling of Inspection, Overhaul and Replacement; Reliability Modelling of Maintained Systems; Warranty and Maintenance Contract Analysis; TPM, RCM, and TQM.

This paper describes the cost and consequences of human error in maintenance and reliability (M & R) in a variety of venues such as utilities, manufacturing and government. Key elements will focus on:

Don Kuenzli, as a plant manager, successfully transformed two oil refineries to highly reliable and sustainable performance by creating a culture of Continuous Improvement through defect elimination. He had a vision to create “a world class facility with pacesetter performance” for these refineries. When Don shared his vision with his boss at one of these sites, he was told that they could not afford to create this level of performance. Managers often make the assumption that the best performance is gained by paying a high price. There are many benchmark studies that demonstrate quite the opposite.

Meggitt Sensing Systems, a Meggitt group division, has announced the global market introduction of the Endevco model 7268C, a miniature triaxial piezoresistive accelerometer designed for high-reliability measurement of short duration shock across three axes and in three orthogonal directions.

SmartSignal Corporation today announced that it has been selected by Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) to install SmartSignal EPI*Center Predictive Analytic software to protect SSE’s entire large thermal fleet. SmartSignal will be monitoring all 6.5 GW at all SSE coal and CCGT plants in the UK.  In addition, SSE will be using SmartSignal’s xConnector.

The Life Cycle Institute, Life Cycle Engineering’s (LCE) education group, has introduced a new resource, Introduction to High Impact Learning, for executives, managers and supervisors determined to improve the ROI of their training initiatives.

Together, Design Maintenance Systems Inc. and IDCON, Inc. are holding a three day intensive course to learn about and setup an Operator Inspection and Asset Basic Care program. Spend the first day with IDCON learning critical equipment failure detection and prevention strategies from a maintenance and operations perspective.  Then on the following two days, get hands-on training in setting-up an inspection information system in MAINTelligence.