Read the latest entries to each of Plant Engineering's blogs.
Lachance on CMMS is about current maintenance topics. Blogger Paul Lachance is president and chief technology officer for Smartware Group. Lachance has been developing and perfecting the company’s CMMS solution for the maintenance professional for 18 years.
Marshall on Maintenance is provided by the Marshall Institute, an asset management consulting and training company dedicated to helping companies improve the maintenance contribution to their organizational performance.
Machine Safety is J.B. Titus's blog in which he discusses machine guarding topics, including solutions assessments, regulatory compliance, gap analysis, operating efficiencies and cost savings, as well as all relevant safety standards, such as those from NFPA, ANSI, RIA, IEC, ISO and OSHA.
Research Analyst blogs are provided by IMS Research, recently acquired by IHS Inc., leading independent supplier of market research and consultancy to the global electronics industry. These analyst blogs discuss hot topics in the following industries: Automotive + Transport, Communications + Wireless, Consumer Electronics, Displays, Factory Automation, Financial + ID Technologies, Lighting + LEDs, Power + Energy, Security + Fire, and Semiconductors.
Lachance on CMMS
CMMS conventional wisdom tells us to schedule our machine preventive maintenance items on a calendar, but what if it's too early to check and replace a part? » more
Companies spend a bundle on inventory management software to avoid overstocks and outages. But maintenance teams have a friend in CMMS. » more
Better management of corrective and preventive work orders means a more efficient maintenance team will provide workers more capacity and reduce unnecessary overtime » more
So often prospects and clients ask me how to “go mobile” with CMMS. Their question typically starts off in the middle of the mobile process: “I want to use barcode scanning. Where do I begin?” » more
When it comes to maintenance, don’t underestimate the value of CMMS consulting and maintenance organization analysis. » more
Marshall on Maintenance
Even with OSHA's good intent, catastrophic incidents were still happening, especially in the petroleum industry. » more
Without routines, you run the risk of causing undue suffering on the machinery parts or end up with a monumental mess to clean up. » more
Where to start? Building a world class MRO processIn practice, it’s easier to ‘build’ a world class MRO process from one that is mature and functioning, rather than from scratch. » more
CMMS Horror Stories: Five reasons a CMMS implementation can failAs much as some CMMS vendors don’t like to admit it, not every CMMS implementation has been a resounding success. » more
Design for reliability - Part 3 of 6What does the word performance mean to your organization? When I hear the word performance I envision a Formula Race Car at the head of the pack or an Olympic athlete crossing the finish line. » more
Machine Safety
Machine safety: Does ISO 13849-1: 2006 weight severity, frequency, and probability equally?New quantitative requirements for designing safety-related parts of the control system (SRP/CS) have created many discussions. Even with new requirements from ISO 13849-1, this updated standard... » more
Machine safety: Executives balance risks, profitsIndustrial executives are engaged more than ever in operational risk oversight. This certainly includes machine safety. » more
Is PAC the newest PLC? Is there less risk for machine safety in using one or the other? » more
How inclusive is effective grounding for machine safety? Should safe machine grounding consider hand rails, walkways, and protective fencing? » more
Machine safety: What is ambient air temperature and the relationship to safe operation?How can the ambient air temperature range from -30 to +120 degrees Fahrenheit inside a manufacturing plant? The product specs call for certification at -5 to +30 degrees Centigrade for safe... » more
Research Analyst Blogs
Looking at the future of in-flight entertainment industryMost major airlines will offer connectivity at some point in the next ten years. » more
Target CSR budgets to grow EV charging infrastructureThe electric vehicle charging station market is at risk of losing direction once government backed projects evaporate. » more
Machine-tool industry limiting growth in the motion control marketThe machine-tool industry continues to be the largest sector for the global motion control market. » more
With 6 weeks still left in 2012, it has already been a year to remember for in-flight connectivity. » more
SiC, GaN electronics: Where, when, and how big?Silicon’s vice-like grip of the power electronics market in coming under increasing pressure from a pair of wide bandgap semiconductors. » more