Technical Articles

Is Alignment a Part of Your Condition Based Maintenance Plan?

: :

Routine condition-based monitoring (CBM) is a must for maintaining the operation and reliability of rotating equipment in factories and power plants. While most CBM programs include – among other things – cleaning, lubrication and oil checks, many neglect to include shaft alignment into their plan. Instead, they perform it only when something fails. However, studies reveal an alarming statistic… Over 50 percent of all machine damage is caused by incorrect shaft alignment Therefore, why not incorporate shaft alignment into your routine…

HOW WE CAN DETERMINE THE ROOT CAUSE OF FLOW-RELATED PUMP PROBLEMS WITH GAUGES

: :

When it comes to flow-related pump problems, there are a number of potential causes: cavitation, air entrapment, suction/discharge recirculation to name a few. As reliability professionals, our customers rely on us to determine the root cause of the problem and create an actionable diagnosis. Gauges are one of the best yet often overlooked tools available for addressing flow-related pump issues. When properly installed, not only do gauges alert you that a serious problem is occurring, but they can also help…

Start 2018 Off Right: The Top 10 Must-Haves for a Strong CBM Program

: :

About this time every year, we start thinking about everything we’re going to do to make the upcoming new year healthier, happier and more prosperous than the one we’re wrapping up. At IVC we aren’t in the business of bestowing words of wisdom on the best fitness and nutrition programs to build a healthier you. However, we are in the business of sharing our knowledge on what you need for a strong condition-based monitoring (CBM) program for “healthier” machines and equipment…resulting…

The Value of Hiring Veterans

: :

For military veterans, transitioning from active duty to civilian life can be tough. Thankfully, more and more companies are recognizing the value that an employee with military experience brings to the table. Industries such as manufacturing, which are facing a very real and serious shortage of skilled workers, could benefit significantly from the skills of veterans. The reality: Veterans need careers, and manufacturers need high-quality employees Recognizing that the industrial world continues to move swiftly toward computerization and automation, some…

The Future Now…Onward and Upward!

: :

Change can be hard – especially when it’s imposed on us. Why? Because whether we admit it or not, we’re creatures of habit. We find comfort in being able to predict our environment and react accordingly. When that predictability goes away, so does our sense of security. Smart Factories? Automation? Machines Communicating with One Another? Much has been said about the Fourth Industrial Revolution: technologies that enable communication between equipment and computers. With the new technology now a days it…

QUALITY NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING: A MATTER OF INTEGRITY

: :

Think your life is not impacted by the skill level/qualification of a nondestructive testing (NDT) technician? Think again. Most of us probably just take for granted the integrity and reliability of: The bridge you use every day to cross the river on the way to work The landing gear of the plane you’re flying on The front spindle on the bus your kids ride to school every day We’re not wrong in taking these things for granted.…

The 30/30/30/10 Rule for Preventive Maintenance

: :

This is Part 4 in our 4-part series on maintenance programs and benchmarking. If you missed Part 1, Part 2 or Part 3, read them now. In the final installment, we discuss how much value preventive maintenance (PM) actually delivers. According to The Federal Energy Management Program’s Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Best Practices Guide, 31 percent of organizations in the United States use preventive maintenance (interchangeable spelling preventative maintenance) as their predominant mode of maintenance. Unfortunately, O&M also concludes there’s a lot of room for improvement…

Water Damaged Equipment? Early Assessment is Crucial

: :

Water is one of the most serious causes of industrial equipment breakdowns. Water damage can happen gradually, from things like condensation, rainfall, groundwater or a slow leak from industrial processes. Or, the damage can be catastrophic from things like severe storms, flooding, and burst pipes. In addition, water can also be the most deceptive cause of equipment failure – quietly seeping into structural cavities, creating trapped pockets of water that are hard to detect and can cause devastating damage. Water…

The Benchmark Buster: Too Much Inventory

: :

This is Part 3 in our 4-part series on maintenance programs and benchmarking. If you missed Part 1 or Part 2, read it now. In this week’s edition, we discuss how inventory can influence your benchmarking efforts. Unless you are Overstock.com, too much inventory doesn’t just take up valuable warehouse space, it also can be a detriment to your company’s bottom line. In addition to maintenance costs, the other key piece of the replacement asset value (RAV) in your benchmark puzzle…

Reactive, Preventive and Predictive Maintenance

: :

This is Part 2 in our 4-part series on maintenance programs and benchmarking. If you missed Part 1, read it now. This week, we move on to evaluating equipment maintenance programs to determine the best course of action. It’s important to consider the pros and cons of the different styles of maintenance plans, including reactive maintenance, preventive maintenance (sometimes also called preventative), and predictive maintenance options. Which program is the most cost effective? Corrective/Reactive Maintenance (CM) Otherwise known as…