View All Predictive and Preventive Maintenance
Your questions answered: Predictive maintenance: What is condition monitoring, and is it a good choice?
This webinar focused on how to avoid costly, unplanned downtime by leveraging condition monitoring in a reliability plan.
How to accelerate predictive maintenance strategies with advanced analytics
Advanced analytics platforms empower maintenance transformation through predictive modeling, helping manufacturers shift from reactive to proactive approach.
How to prevent unplanned shutdowns in industrial plants
Unplanned shutdowns in industrial plants negatively impact plant operations. Long-term dependability projects, new technologies like artificial intelligence and machine learning and a reliance-centered culture can improve general equipment effectiveness and minimize downtime.
What’s your electrical maintenance plan? Learn how to build one
Businesses need an NFPA 70B-compliant electrical maintenance plan to ensure operational safety and reliability to protect their people, property and processes
Top five Plant Engineering articles: October 28-November 3, 2024
Top articles on Plant Engineering this week covered topics including electrical maintenance, VFDs in manufacturing facilities and predictive maintenance
Top five Plant Engineering articles: October 8-14, 2024
Top Plant Engineering content this week covered topics including predictive analytics, the value of process piping design and security issues to address.
Top five Plant Engineering articles: September 30-October 7, 2024
Top Plant Engineering articles covered topics including predictive analytics, power equipment and important safety standards
Plant Engineering most-viewed content, September 2024
Read the best content in June 2024 including: predictive analytics, process piping systems and arc flash safety
Know when, how to implement electrical maintenance in power equipment
Maintenance of electrical systems is a necessary process that often gets overlooked
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles: September 16-23, 2024
Top Plant Engineering articles this week covered topics including predictive analysis, MES strategies and hydraulic health
Predictive maintenance: When does it make sense?
For large operations and critical systems, a well-strategized investment in an integrated system of human and digital resources can be well worth the effort
Top 5 Plant Engineering content: September 2-8, 2024
Top 5 Plant Engineering content over the past week covered predictive analytics, process piping and more. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Plant Engineering most-viewed content, August 2024
Read the best content in August 2024 including: Predictive analytics for maintenance, compressed air monitoring, process piping and more.
Top 5 Plant Engineering content: August 26 to September 1, 2024
Top 5 Plant Engineering content over the past week covered predictive analytics, process piping, arc flash fundamentals and more. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Choosing between predictive or prescriptive maintenance
Deciding on a predictive or prescriptive maintenance approach varies from company to company because prescriptive costs more to implement because of AI and ML capabilities.
Maintaining Your Plant Floor Edge: Jeremy Hitt, Atlas Copco
Jeremy Hitt from Atlas Copco shares insights on how regular maintenance and predictive maintenance can enhance the reliability of ...
How to anticipate maintenance problems with predictive analytics
Process manufacturers are combining retrospective analysis with predictive tools using advanced analytics platforms, empowering them to build models, project failures, determine optimal maintenance schedules and increase uptime
How energy harvesting can boost predictive maintenance for sustainable industrial growth
Energy harvesting is revolutionizing industrial operations by transforming ambient energy, such as heat, into electrical power
Predictive maintenance’s role in routine compressed air system service
From oil sampling, vibration analysis and connected devices, predictive maintenance done as part of the system’s regular service schedule can keep a compressed air system running efficiently.
Predictive and preventive maintenance in the age of AI
Artificial intelligence (AI) can help enhance predictive and preventive maintenance in manufacturing, but it’s important for users to know which types are appropriate based on the setting and need.
How packing stress and stem friction on fugitive emissions impact control valve packing behavior
Understanding the performance of valve packing and the pivotal role friction plays in their operation is fundamental to ensuring optimal functionality and longevity in industrial processes.
Maintaining Your Plant Floor Edge: Jerome Soltani, Schneider Electric
In this conversation, with Jerome Soltani from Schneider Electric, he looks at electrical ...
Maintaining Your Plant Floor Edge: Marc Elliott, Eaton
Marc Elliott from Eaton looks at maintenance of electrical systems in plants. He touches on tre...
Benefits of unlocking AI-powered maintenance for manufacturers
The rise of AI-powered CMMS presents an urgent opportunity for organizations to adopt fully digital solutions, but it needs reliable data capture of yesterday's actions to fully realize its potential.
Maintaining Your Plant Floor Edge: Scott Dowell, Wesco
Scott Dowell from Wesco discusses how the industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) plays a key role...
Top 5 Plant Engineering content: June 3-9, 2024
Top 5 Plant Engineering content over the past week covered predictive maintenance, utilizing asset management, most-viewed content and more. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Predictive or preventive maintenance: Which strategy is right for you?
Learn to blend predictive and preventive maintenance practices to achieve the right business balance.
Plant Engineering most-viewed content, May 2024
Read the best content in May 2024 including: Predictive maintenance benefits, event prevention, sustainability and optimization and more.
Maintaining Your Plant Floor Edge: Dr. Michael Wrinch, Hedgehog Technologies
Dr. Michael Wrinch, the founder of Hedgehog Technologies, looks at how plant managers ...
Top 5 Plant Engineering content: May 13-19, 2024
Top 5 Plant Engineering content over the past week covered predictive maintenance benefits, reducing oil and gas costs and predictive maintenance and industrial automation and more. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Maintaining Your Plant Floor Edge: Mark Ruffin, Teadit
Mark Ruffin, vice president of sales for Teadit North America, discussed the re-packing of va...
Optimizing shutdowns, turnarounds, outages and improving the bottom line
In an upcoming May 14 webcast, learn how optimizing shutdowns, turnarounds and outages (STO) provides many benefits for companies.
How predictive maintenance can change industrial automation and reliability
Companies looking to take their automation game to the next level also need solutions that can help them maximize efficiency and address maintenance concerns before they happen.
Plant Engineering most-viewed content, April 2024
Read the best content in April 2024 including: Maintenance trends, asset life cycle management, automation tips, finding the right material handling solutions and more.
Predictive maintenance: When does it make sense?
For large operations and critical systems, a well-strategized investment in an integrated system of human and digital resources can be well worth the effort.
Maintaining Your Plant Floor Edge: Tiffany Barnes, Honeywell
Tiffany Barnes, senior offering manager for software solutions at Honeywell, discussed how ...
Top 5 Plant Engineering content: April 15-21, 2024
Top 5 Plant Engineering content over the past week covered maintenance trends, electric vehicle lubricants, automation tips and more. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Developing the right maintenance strategy for long-term success
Regardless of what maintenance philosophy a company enacts, having the right strategy is paramount and will mean the difference between success and failure.
Developing the right MRO plan for a manufacturing facility
The right maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) plan can save manufacturing facilities a lot of trouble in the long run if companies take ownership and find the right resources.
How maintenance trends are affecting and changing manufacturing facilities
Maintenance best practices have evolved and are changing how workers stay safe and improve their operations.
Top 5 Plant Engineering content: March 25-31, 2024
Top 5 Plant Engineering content over the past week covered predictive maintenance, asset life cycle management, motors and drives and more. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Does your facility need a pipe stress audit?
Learn to identify potential pipe stress or thermal growth problems using an explanation of pipe stress and thermal expansion
Plant Engineering most-viewed content, January 2024
Read the best content in January 2024 including: Most-viewed content in 2023, predictive maintenance myths, compressed air analysis and more.
Top 5 Plant Engineering content: January 15-21, 2024
Top 5 Plant Engineering content over the past week covered predictive maintenance myths, condition-based maintenance and big data's benefits for sustainability and digital transformation. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Dispelling the top five predictive maintenance myths
When it comes to predictive maintenance, there are several common misconceptions and they can affect companies’ efforts to improve their operations.
Steps to take for successful condition-based maintenance and monitoring
Technology advances have made condition-based maintenance more attainable for companies of all sizes and budgets.
Using software in predictive maintenance, part 3: Questions and answers
Michael Hardy and Ed Garibian answer audience questions on preparatory steps to effectively utilize automation and the cost considerations of predictive and preventive maintenance.
Using software in predictive maintenance, part 2: Mobile’s role in maintenance, case studies
Michael Hardy and Ed Garibian cover mobile’s role in maintenance management and examine case studies on how companies overcame challenges.
Why is CMMS software so essential for the power and energy industry?
Learn about the critical role of maintenance management in the power and energy industry, and how CMMS can be used
Using software in predictive maintenance, part 1: Understanding maintenance fundamentals
Michael Hardy and Ed Garibian cover maintenance fundamentals and how they help engineers improve their efficiency as well as what total productive maintenance (TPM) can do.
Your questions answered: Using software in predictive maintenance
Additional questions on software in preventive maintenance are addressed presented in an October 17 webcast, archived for a year.
How can plant personnel successfully maintain low-voltage dry type transformers?
Low-voltage dry type transformers (LVDTT) are often forgotten pieces of necessary electrical equipment, however they need regular maintenance
How software helps predictive maintenance applications
Predictive maintenance can be enhanced and improved with the right software tools, which is highlighted in an upcoming webcast on Oct. 17.
Plant Engineering most-viewed content, September 2023
Read the best content in September 2023 including: Predictive maintenance best practices, Leaders Under 40, intelligent digital twins and more.
How predictive maintenance and IIoT is revolutionizing material handling
Many safety and productivity risks in material handling are being averted through the adoption and integrating of IIoT technologies.
How predictive technologies are evolving through disciplined data collection, organization and analysis
Manufacturers are finding that data collection is only part of the equation when it comes to predicting machine health and performance. A robust toolbox of organization and analysis processes is essential in turning data into knowledge and action.
Benefits of continuous vibration monitoring
In industries where equipment failure can result in serious consequences, such as aviation or oil and gas, continuous vibration monitoring plays a vital role
The market for predictive maintenance in motor driven systems
Methods for performing predictive maintenance are evolving rapidly. As a result, the market for enabling technology of predictive maintenance is set to boom.
Top 5 Plant Engineering content: September 4-10, 2023
Top 5 Plant Engineering content over the past week covered predictive maintenance best practices, Quality 4.0, hazard protection trends and more. Miss something? You can catch up here.
How Quality 4.0 is changing operations for manufacturers
Quality 4.0 combines traditional qualities with Industry 4.0 technologies and concepts to improve manufacturing operations.
Making energy savings for a sustainable future with proactive maintenance
Data and proactive maintenance can help manufacturers reduce production energy costs and become more sustainable.
Top 5 Plant Engineering content: August 14-20, 2023
Top 5 Plant Engineering content over the past week covered IIoT predictive condition monitoring, electrical safety, hazard protection trends and more. Miss something? You can catch up here.
How IIoT is preventing costly downtime and ensuring safety
Unplanned downtime can cause problems for manufacturers, leading to production losses and safety incidents.
Top 5 Plant Engineering content: August 7-13, 2023
The top 5 Plant Engineering content from the past week covered predictive maintenance, compressed air vibration monitoring, IIoT predictive condition monitoring and more. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Reduce dreaded pump problems or failures with condition monitoring
To avoid costly, unplanned downtime, leveraging condition monitoring in a reliability plan is essential
Top 5 Plant Engineering content: July 31 to August 6, 2023
The top 5 Plant Engineering content from the past week covered predictive maintenance best practices, compressed air, warehouse construction, and more. Miss something? You can catch up here.
The benefits of IIoT predictive condition monitoring for maintenance programs
The use of industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) predictive maintenance technology is becoming increasingly important for businesses that rely on rotating equipment such as motors, pumps and fans
Plant Engineering most-viewed content, July 2023
Read the best content in July 2023 including: Industrial analytics and maintenance, warehouse construction, machine maintenance efficiency and more.
Benefits of developing an electrical preventive maintenance program
An electrical preventive maintenance (EPM) can help identify safety risks, correct reliability issues and give an overall view of the health status of a facility’s electrical infrastructure.
Four steps for improving pre-alignment machine maintenance efficiency
Pre-alignment is a crucial preparatory step that ensures accurate alignment and effective machine operation and various checks such as pipe strain and bearing clearances.
How industrial analytics helps manufacturers evolve from predictive to prescriptive maintenance
Advanced industrial analytics helps engineers predict when maintenance is needed and provide prescriptive instructions.
Top 5 Plant Engineering content: June 26 to July 2, 2023
The top 5 Plant Engineering content from the past week covered predictive maintenance, Product of the Year winners, process safety management and more. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Total productive maintenance benefits for manufacturers
Total productive maintenance is a strategy that helps increase the reliability and productivity of equipment and machinery.
Using sensors to improve predictive maintenance in facilities
Sensors designed to monitor and track vibration can help reduce potential breakdowns and reduce downtime in manufacturing facilities.
Top 5 Plant Engineering content: June 12-18, 2023
The top 5 Plant Engineering content from the past week covered Product of the Year winners, maintenance fundamentals, asset management trends and more. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Maintenance and safety considerations for pneumatic and hydraulic controls
Pneumatic and hydraulic controls are critical to the manufacturing industry, and implementation requires careful consideration of safety and maintenance requirements
Plant Engineering most-viewed content, May 2023
Read the best content in May 2023 including: Flyback diodes, robot efficiency, oil and gas emissions, sustainability goals and more.
Benefits of adopting a reliability-centered maintenance strategy
The use of advanced device diagnostics will accelerate your industry's maintenance strategy based on a predictive and proactive approach.
March manufacturing orders improve over February
New orders of manufacturing technology totaled $543.2 million in March 2023, according to the latest U.S. Manufacturing Technology Orders Report.
Maintenance webcast: Power and electrical system maintenance
Industrial electrical maintenance is vital for equipment performance, reliability and avoiding downtime. Register for this webcast to learn about NFPA 70E and considerations for electrical maintenance.
Maintenance and troubleshooting fundamentals for industrial automation
Maintenance and troubleshooting includes replacing, adjusting, and repairing elements of a machine or system so that it can properly perform its required functions
Manufacturing orders remain steady in February
Manufacturing orders totaled $467.8 million in February, which is an improvement over January by 33%, but is down slightly from the same period in 2022.
Top 5 Plant Engineering content: April 3-9, 2023
The top 5 Plant Engineering content from the past week covered packaging advice, most-viewed content, digitalization and more. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Predictive maintenance webcast: Using handheld tools for your facility
Deciding between a tool or a sensor for a maintenance project depends on the maintenance program’s maturity. Register for this webcast to learn what you need from a PdM program
Plant Engineering most-viewed content, March 2023
Read the best content in March 2023 including: Condition-based maintenance, AI and sustainability, valve priorities and more.
Five ways to prevent schedule delays for a food plant
The food and beverage design-build process demands attention to detail and a high level of expertise to navigate a maze of regulations. Five tips to making the process easier are highlighted.
Expert Q&A: Setting up a maintenance program
Maintenance programs range from simple to complex. Either choice is correct, as long as it’s followed.
Condition-based maintenance keeps a facility up and running
What if there was a way to protect facility assets and ensure little to no downtime of plant machinery?
Top 5 Plant Engineering content: February 20-26, 2023
The top 5 Plant Engineering content from the past week covered predictive maintenance, energy management, supply chain and valuing assets. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering content: February 13-19, 2023
The top 5 Plant Engineering content from the past week covered maintenance, IIoT, safety, ESG and motors and drives. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Enhancing oil, gas platform operations with the right components
Recognizing the best materials to use for fluid system components is critical to realizing successful outcomes for oil and gas professionals
Predicting the journey to improved reliability
As predictive maintenance (PdM) moves from a concept into a practical solution, it is transforming manufacturing operations.
Top 5 Plant Engineering content: January 30-February 5, 2023
The top 5 Plant Engineering content from the past week covered motors, pumps, safety, energy efficiency and maintenance. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Five ways maintenance engineers can improve maintenance management
Maintenance engineers play a key role in ensuring a machine remains functional and coordinates with the management team. Five tips are highlighted.
Assisting manufacturers in making the right decision in packaging applications
Manufacturers have many choices when it comes to packaging applications and it's critical for the supplier to understand the customer's needs.
Five benefits of an effective predictive maintenance plan
An effective predictive maintenance plan can help manufacturers reduce downtime and supply chain issues while improving machine efficiency and the life of their assets.
Automation testing market to more than triple its growth over next decade
The automation testing market is expected to more than triple its growth over the next decade due to increased demand and artificial intelligence (AI) use.
Test equipment upgrades balance art and science
Equipment upgrades are dependent on a well-developed plan that can help companies make informed data-driven decisions that will contribute to a company’s business goals.
Top 5 Plant Engineering content: January 2-8, 2023
The top 5 Plant Engineering content from the past week covered maintenance, PLCs, arc flashes and automation. Miss something? You can catch up here.
How small changes eliminate conveyor jams
It’s all in the details
Top 5 Plant Engineering content: December 13-18, 2022
The top 5 Plant Engineering content from the past week covered material handling, control systems, safety, maintenance and plant automation. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Managing best practices in plant operations
Shift turnovers place a premium on connectivity
Overcoming IT/OT convergence challenges for predictive maintenance in process manufacturing
Bridging the information technology/operational technology (IT/OT) system divide is crucial for process industries for successful predictive maintenance (PdM) utilization.
Top 5 Plant Engineering content: December 5-11, 2022
The top 5 Plant Engineering content from the past week covered maintenance, electric vehicles, control systems and system integration. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Your questions answered: The next step in achieving predictive maintenance
Additional questions on achieving predictive maintenance from a November 8 webcast relating to mechanical seal performance are answered.
Four ways predictive maintenance changed how maintenance departments work
More predictable maintenance equates to scheduling optimization
Top 5 Plant Engineering content: October 31-November 6, 2022
The top 5 Plant Engineering content from the past week covered prescriptive maintenance, 3D printing, compressed air, systems integration and LOTO. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering content: October 24-30, 2022
The top 5 Plant Engineering content from the past week covered maintenance, control cabinets, lubrication and compressed air. Miss something? You can catch up here.
A seven-step journey to prescriptive maintenance
There are several steps engineers can take to move from reactive to prescriptive plant maintenance.
Management culture and the maintenance prize
There are many benefits to equipment longevity when attention is paid to practices. Four types of maintenance and culture tips are highlighted.
Three perspectives on maintenance management software
Maintenance management software helps to streamline the data-capturing process and creates a more efficient plant floor,
The process of effective predictive maintenance
Best practice strategies involve reducing maintenance costs and improving equipment performance.
Three ways technology impacts time and motion studies
Time and motion studies analyze tasks and break them down into their components
PDO optimizing performance, less down time
Petroleum Development Oman extends life of critical plant assets with timely tech upgrades
Five strategies to consider when building a maintenance management plan
Developing a maintenance management plan requires careful attention and knowledge to a company’s specific needs and requirements for improving overall productivity and safety.
Three steps for identifying and solving common pressure regulator issues
A three-step process can help operators recognize regulator problems and provide solutions before they affect the entire system
How to set zero-waste goals in manufacturing
Manufacturing facilities can reach zero-waste by establishing how much waste is being produced and developing a comprehensive roadmap
Improving asset criticality with better decision making at the plant level
KPIs express and protect the license to operate, which include safety, environmental, and compliance protections
Fluid sampling best practices
This can derail the best fluid analysis program and cause severe maintenance issues for companies.
Jobs are there for the taking
How a skilled labor shortage and changing maintenance strategies are causing the maintenance function to evolve
The importance of maintaining aging equipment
Maintaining aging equipment can be a challenge as parts for the old equipment are often no longer available or very expensive, particularly if systems end up failing.
DCIM maintains uptime, drives efficiency and protects distributed IT assets
DCIM technology, through real-time data insights, confirms that assets are always on and protected
Predictive maintenance polishes up mining
Systems are more cost effective than regularly timed maintenance for mining applications.
Preventive maintenance software: Doing preventive maintenance the right way
Preventive maintenance is a better way of preventing equipment breakdowns before they cause problems on the plant floor.
Optimizing equipment scanning
Implementing and leveraging this scanning technology, enhances productivity and provides multiple benefits for project owners.
Top 5 Plant Engineering content: May 16-22, 2022
The most-viewed content from the past week covered Product of the Year winners, predictive maintenance, condition-based monitoring, remote condition monitoring and robotic wearables. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering content: May 9-15, 2022
The most-viewed content from the past week covered Product of the Year winners, predictive maintenance, COVID-19 controls, compressed air systems and automation career advice. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Introduction to condition-based monitoring (CBM)
New technology advances help manufacturers across industries move away from inefficient maintenance processes, increasing machine uptime and plant productivity
Top 5 Plant Engineering content: May 2-8, 2022
The most-viewed content from the past week covered Product of the Year winners, predictive maintenance, air compressor lubricants, material handling and RNG fleet vehicle benefits. Miss something? You can catch up here.
How predictive maintenance impacts preventive maintenance
You can’t shut down every time there’s an alert
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles April 11-17, 2022
Articles about AI-based predictive maintenance, supply chain improvements, remote condition monitoring, industrial automation and future-proof manufacturing were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from April 11-17, 2022. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Getting started with AI-based predictive maintenance
Artificial intelligence (AI), and particularly machine learning (ML), provide effective tools for implementing predictive maintenance.
Predict process events with contextual data insights
Maintenance teams see predicted machine failures
Four strategies for implementing machine monitoring equipment
Setting objectives for machine monitoring, prioritizing machines, developing relevant performance metrics and continuously improving them.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles March 14-20, 2022
Articles about the benefits behind cycle-based PM, how to extend the life of a ball valve, and the IIoT's role in smart manufacturing, were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from March 14-20, 2022. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles Feb. 14-20, 2022
Articles about how to avoid fault tree analysis mistakes, how to improve the maintainability of critical assets, what's in store for Industry 4.0, and more were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from Feb. 14-20, 2022. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Reduce microbiological activity with PVDF piping
Using Red Kynar PVDF reduces extra maintenance costs and unexpected downtime
How to improve the maintainability of critical assets
Four efficient and effective ways to improve maintainability of critical assets.
The benefits behind cycle-based PM
Moving from calendar-based to a cycle-based preventive maintenance system can be a game changer for organizations
How to extend the P-F interval for critical assets
The objective of prolonging the P-F interval is to increase the capability to detect potential failures
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles Dec. 6-12, 2021
Articles about how to launch a successful predictive maintenance program, artificial intelligence developed to understand object relationships, and more were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from Dec. 6-12, 2021. Miss something? You can catch up here.
ADAC Automotive gains real-time visibility into root causes of machine downtime
Production management and predictive maintenance in one
How to launch a successful predictive maintenance program
An approach that keeps people at the center of the digitalization project has a better chance of success
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles Nov. 1-7, 2021
Articles about how to keep spare part inventories accurate, make to stock vs. make to order, differences between NEMA and IEC electric motors, and more were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from Nov. 1-7, 2021. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles Oct 18-24, 2021
Articles about a pressing case for predictive analytics, difference between NEMA and IEC electric motors, how to avoid COVID-19 related schedule delays using Lean, and more, were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from Oct 18-24, 2021. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Tackling overall equipment effectiveness to improve manufacturing operations
Original equipment effectiveness (OEE) is the product of availability, performance and quality. Knowing how to use these elements can help manufacturers improve operations.
Maintenance and power quality events for ac induction motors
Michael Lyda, director of the Advanced Energy motor lab in Raleigh, NC, will speak on basic operation and maintenance of ac induction motors, as well as delving deeper into power quality events.
A pressing case for predictive analytics at MacLean-Fogg
Predictive maintenance on a hot forming press gets automotive supplier started in smart manufacturing
Best practices in IIoT-based predictive maintenance
Modernized FDT technology drives collaboration between control system and device suppliers to provide cloud-based monitoring for improved asset reliability.
How to convince maintenance to use the new CMMS
When it comes to selecting a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS), get the maintenance staff involved in the process
Why cycle-based preventive maintenance is becoming simpler
Technology advances, particularly cloud and mobile technology, as well as smarter intelligence are making preventive maintenance (PM) operations easier.
Four ways manufacturers can grow post-COVID-19
Manufacturers remain resilient and strong in the pandemic’s wake, but there are steps to take to prepare for the next anomalous event
Who knows what to expect?
Solutions for condition monitoring are coming from all directions as manufacturers try to streamline supply chain operations.
Benefits of a predictive maintenance system for monitoring vibration
Continuously and remotely monitoring vibration with a predictive maintenance system can help is better than waiting for a system to fail.
PLCs improve predictive maintenance
Pulling vital information from field devices and transmitting it to the enterprise boosts maintenance practices.
Make to stock vs. make to order: Why one is on the rise
Make to order (MTO) is gaining traction with manufacturers because it allows consumers to purchase products customized to their specifications.
Clean lubricant program success
Particle count analysis, either in the lab or onsite, has the potential to catch issues early before they lead to equipment failure.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles July 12-18, 2021
Articles about safer, smarter and more productive electrical maintenance, four remote work solutions post-pandemic, lithium battery developments, and more were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from July 12-18, 2021. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles June 21-27, 2021
Articles about how to get ROI from IIoT for maintenance applications, the current state of the maintenance function, four ways site location can affect construction costs, and more were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from June 21-27, 2021. Miss something? You can catch up here.
The maintenance function, like manufacturing itself, is a rapidly changing environment
Facilities on average outsource more than 20% of maintenance operations.
How to get ROI from IIoT for maintenance applications
Enhanced productivity through smart device monitoring technology can help manufacturers realize a return on investment (ROI) with the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT).
Predictive maintenance best practices
Best practice strategies involve reducing maintenance costs and improving equipment performance.
Advanced valve diagnostics drive savings
When coupled with diagnostic software, smart positioners can be used to reduce maintenance costs and outages.
Beyond the bearing housing retrofit
A look into additional retrofit options outside of the bearing housing to improve reliability and reduce operating costs.
Understanding preventive and predictive maintenance
Preventive (PM) and predictive maintenance (PdM) can improve productivity, delivery, customer satisfaction, and profits.
Choosing the right maintenance strategy
Picking the right maintenance strategy depends on the plant's specific needs and priorities. Five maintenance strategies are highlighted.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles April 26- May 2, 2021
Articles about how to keep spare part inventories accurate for maintenance departments, cybersecurity throwback attack, and the anatomy of an effective preconstruction strategy were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from April 26- May 2, 2021. Miss something? You can catch up here.
How to keep spare part inventories accurate for maintenance departments
Spare part inventory management isn't easy to get started and it's even harder to maintain. Everyone in a maintenance department has a role to play in helping ensure accuracy and cleanliness.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles April 19-25, 2021
Articles about spare part inventory for maintenance organizations, fire safety best practices for manufacturing facilities, and how to resolve a conflict before it manifests itself were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from April 19-25, 2021. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Five ways to improve food manufacturing flexibility
Consider five potential blind spots that can hamper a food manufacturer's flexibility to adjusting to new market trends.
Spare part inventory for maintenance organizations is critical
Maintenance organizations often need spare parts for various tasks, but keeping everything orderly is a challenge. Companies can change things, though. Consider seven steps and best practices highlighted here.
Five reasons why shop floor software is critical for manufacturers
Shop floor maintenance software gives manufacturers information on how things operate and the right program will improve efficiency.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles March 15-21, 2021
Articles about digital transformation trends, plant turnarounds, two-way radios, effective communication and writing a maintenance task procedure were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from March 15-21, 2021. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Working corrective maintenance into an equipment maintenance strategy
Corrective equipment maintenance can be an effective tool if it is used by all the people on the floor to help maintain the equipment and drive production efficiency.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles February 22-28, 2021
Articles about Product of the Year finalists, writing a maintenance task procedure, machine learning and manufacturing, implementing Industry 4.0 and effective plant turnarounds were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from February 22-28, 2021. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Taking the time out of function blocks
Software tools are speeding up the creation of IO-Link function blocks to enable the capture of more valuable process data from machine controllers.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles February 15-21, 2021
Articles about Product of the Year finalists, writing a maintenance task procedure, machine learning and manufacturing, implementing Industry 4.0 and effective plant turnarounds were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from February 15-21, 2021. Miss something? You can catch up here.
How to write a maintenance task procedure
Thorough maintenance task procedures document the repair process and make everyone accountable for their actions.
Fasteners manufacturer acquired to join construction services division
Würth Industry North America (WINA) has acquired Atlantic Fasteners Inc. to become part of their new construction services division.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles January 18-24, 2021
Articles about the factory of the future, asset maintenance, predictive analytics success, solar power plant commissioning and wastewater surveillance were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from January 18-24, 2021. Miss something? You can catch up here.
How vertical farming can change the supply chain
Vertical farming has the potential to redistribute the supply chain from a small group of producers to dozens or hundreds of urban vertical farms that supply surrounding local markets.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles December 28 to January 3
Articles about 2020 Top Plant, Product of the Year finalists, testing and maintenance programs, maintenance automation and digital twins were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from December 14-20, 2020. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles December 14-20, 2020
Articles about 2020 Top Plant, Product of the Year finalists, testing and maintenance programs, maintenance automation and digital twins were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from December 14-20, 2020. Miss something? You can catch up here.
How to remove waste and cost from the indirect supply chain
Skilled labor service companies can solve supply chain problems for manufacturers while improving their bottom line
How system integrators can help reduce maintenance costs
Shirley Ike from Wood Americas offers advice on predictive and prescriptive maintenance
Swagelok Co. excels by looking to the future
2020 Plant Engineering Top Plant: Focus on training, workforce development and digitalization enable success
Where supply chains are at the moment
Manufacturing and supply chains have endured during the COVID-19 pandemic
How air casters integrate CNC machining and business operations
Lean methodologies are supported by flexibility in plant floor layouts
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles November 23-29, 2020
Articles about testing and maintenance programs, LEED certification, Product of the Year finalists, robots packaging eggs and maximizing people power were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from November 23-29, 2020. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles November 16-22, 2020
Articles about Product of the Year finalists, maintenance automation, wearable exoskeletons, facility safety and building a maintenance program were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from November 16-22, 2020. Miss something? You can catch up here.
How to build a better testing and maintenance program
The central objectives of any maintenance program are to extend the life of the equipment, increase facility uptime and improve plant safety
How TPM boosts productivity in manufacturing
Adopt total productive maintenance to improve manufacturing productivity
Reduce unplanned downtime, endorse predictive maintenance
Recent webinar presentation answered range of attendee questions.
How to maintain material traceability in LMS-commissioned plants
Introducing manual processes in line management systems (LMS)-commissioned plants can harm material traceability
Four common profit killers and how to avoid them
Superior maintenance operations may just be the difference maker
Select and specify efficient, accurate grab sampling systems
How fluid vessel types and other variables influence system design
End users, OEMs and technology partners engage on IIoT
IIoT-enabled predictive maintenance maximizes uptime, with machinery end users and OEMs working together to determine best practices
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles August 17-23, 2020
Articles about protecting VFD investments, cable gland strategies, predictive maintenance and block valves were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from August 17-23, 2020. Miss something? You can catch up here.
SaaS will revolutionize predictive maintenance in motor driven systems
Report highlights relationships between component manufacturers, OEM machine builders and end users
Rugged, real time and remote
Streaming content on phones and other devices also has changed our expectations and the technology must be able to withstand tough conditions.
How to address digital transformation challenges
Bottom-up efforts provide a better path to success than top-down edicts for digital transformation initiatives
How to improve electrical maintenance with predictive tests
How to use these four predictive tests to improve your electrical maintenance plan
Avoiding Profit Killers in Manufacturing Maintenance and Operations
Now more than ever, it is important for manufacturers to run lean and efficient — and maintenance operations are no exception. Profit killers like downtime, stock-outs and compliance gaps aren’t affordable in times like these.
Tips on how to achieve multisite CMMS success
How four companies accomplished multisite CMMS implementations, gaining a consolidated view of operations and standardized maintenance practices
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles July 13-19, 2020
Articles about predictive maintenance value, manufacturing accidents, reusable masks for COVID-19, tungsten's value to manufacturers and the manufacturing index tips were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from July 13-19, 2020. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles July 6-12, 2020
Articles about predictive maintenance value, energy assessment tips, manufacturing index automating manufacturing workflow, data integration and energy assessment tips were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from July 6-12, 2020. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Predictive maintenance value: Smart sensors, machine learning, new industrial business models
Smart sensors and machine learning algorithms detect anomalies in industrial machines, and as algorithms become better trained, software can accurately predict when machines with industrial automation is at risk of failure. New business models for machine as a service (MaaS) may help overcome slow adoption of predictive maintenance technologies.
Your questions answered: Maintenance technology and the industrial skills gap
Apply best practices to maintenance operations despite shortages in talented industrial personnel
Manufacturing fights back
How manufacturers continue to operate amidst the virus crisis
The state of uncertainty persists
The future of manufacturing and the economy remains unclear due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles April 27 to May 3, 2020
Articles about Product of the Year winners, ventilator production, manufacturing post COVID-19, supply chain solutions and robots fighting COVID-19 were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from April 27 to May 3, 2020. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Non-destructive testing provider contributes to consortium for ventilator production
First marketed in 1957, Bird Mark 7 returns as open-source ventilator solution
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles April 13-19, 2020
Articles about best practices for essential manufacturing, COVID-19 safety, protecting the supply chain, asset performance management and robots fighting COVID-19 were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from April 13-19, 2020. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Maintain material traceability in LMS-commissioned plants
Introducing manual processes in line management systems (LMS)-commissioned plants can harm material traceability
Protecting the supply chain from global crises
The COVID-19 pandemic is forcing manufacturers to rethink the supply chain and how it can be affected by outside forces. Consider the 14 questions and actions highlighted.
A profound impact on manufacturing
The COVID-19 pandemic is changing manufacturing in many ways. Learn how some are being affected and what they're doing for the future
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles March 16-22, 2020
Articles about coronavirus challenges for manufacturers, the 2020 Maintenance Survey, electrical component protection and 3D metal printing were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from March 16-22, 2020. Miss something? You can catch up here.
An evolutionary challenge faces the maintenance function
It involves a mix of people and technology concerns, each one feeding off the other
Preventing coronavirus through preparation
Many manufacturers are becoming increasingly concerned with Covid-19 breakouts on the production floor. There are ways to improve worker safety through preventive best practices and proper preparation.
Rethink 3D metal printing of turbomachinery parts
Higher-performance pumps and compressors are now possible through support-free additive manufacturing (AM)
Increase profits by recycling metalworking fluids
Leaders in the metalworking and metal forming industries understand fluid recycling can have a positive effect on their bottom line
Seven steps for a successful shutdown
Follow these steps to ensure a successful outage and restart.
Insidious corrosion of fixed equipment detected via predictive maintenance
Pipes and vessels monitored to detect and mitigate corrosion using wireless instrumentation.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles January 13-19
Articles about Product of the Year, real-time monitoring and control, long-term integrator relationships, Top Plant 2019, and cutting compressed air costs were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from January 13-19. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top Plant 2019: Raymond Corp. excels as an innovator
From introducing wooden pallets to incorporating Lithium ion batteries, near-100-year-old Raymond Corp. moves the materials that define the e-commerce era.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles November 18-24
Articles about Product of the Year, HMIs and maintenances, future of industrial automation, Industry 4.0 success, and selecting actuator components were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from November 18-24. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles November 11-17
Articles about Product of the Year, optimized maintenance programs, Leaders Under 40, low battery self-discharge, and Industry 4.0 success were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from November 11-17. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Report finds U.S. leading future of manufacturing production
RS Components' report finds the U.S. leads the way for manufacturing production with Canada also in the top 10 from North America.
Your questions answered: Tips on avoiding leakage, downtime and equipment failure
Presenters Brian Kalfrin and Jack Bagain from John Crane answered questions on topics such as adequate seal pot pressure, seal reliability, and more.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles October 28 to November 3
Articles about HMIs enabling maintenance, shape-shifting robots, digital engineering, exoskeletons on the supply chain, and optimized maintenance programs were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from October 28 to November 3. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles October 14-20
Articles about optimized maintenance programs, getting the automation zone right, data-driven maintenance, optimizing project satisfaction, and selecting lubricating greases were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from October 14-20. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Predicting the end of unplanned downtime
Any unscheduled downtime will cause a major headache for engineers in the food and beverage manufacturing sector, but predictive maintenance can be a remedy.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles October 7-13
Articles about data-driven maintenance, optimizing project satisfaction, condition monitoring technologies, manufacturing trends, and the Engineering Leaders Under 40 were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from October 7-13. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Optimize a maintenance program for rotating equipment
Some things to think about when it comes to reliability.
Forge a path to data-driven maintenance excellence
And then use metrics to track the progress being made.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles September 23-29
Articles about preventive maintenance, maintaining secondary equipment, generator rotor repair, HMI remote access options, and the Engineering Leaders Under 40 were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from September 23-29. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Your questions answered: How to Become a Preventive Maintenance All-Star
On September 11, Plant Engineering presented a webinar, “How to Become a Preventive Maintenance All-Star,” sponsored by Dude Solutions.
A copious mandate is plant engineering
How is plant engineering changing and how does that influence the editorial direction of Plant Engineering magazine?
Maintain secondary equipment via IIoT
Nonproduction equipment like dust collectors compete for maintenance attention; IIoT can help identify issues before they become larger problems.
Safeguard refractory installation
Take these 12 vital steps to ensure a successful refractory installation and a flawless dry out.
Manufacturing index drops for fourth consecutive month
The Institute for Supply Management's (ISM) purchasing manufacturers' index (PMI) slid to 51.2% in July as anxiety about tariffs, inventory and employment weigh on manufacturing companies.
Five-step continuous improvement cycle for businesses
Like basketball, businesses need everyone to work together to achieve the same goal and improve the company. A five-step continuous improvement cycle can help.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles July 22-28
Articles about alarm management tips, lubrication advice, NFPA 70E advice, maintenance process redesign, and smart manufacturing were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from July 22-28. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles July 8-14
Articles about maintenance process redesign, smart manufacturing, lubrication and bearings, predictive maintenance obstacles, and safety best practices were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from July 8-14. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles July 1-7
Articles about lubrication and bearings, the 2019 Lubrication Guide, oil's return on investment, predictive maintenance obstacles, and worker safety best practices were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from July 1-7. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Redesigning maintenance processes to optimize PdM automation
Set the stage for a successful transition from manual to IIoT-enhanced, predictive maintenance processes.
12 benefits of using standards in design, implementation for iMOM projects
Integrated manufacturing operations management (iMOM) is designed to increase and sustain business benefits for users such as improved accuracy and thorough implementation.
Overcoming predictive maintenance obstacles
There are several key barriers to the implementation of predictive maintenance technologies, but they can be alleviated.
Beyond the buzz: How IIoT helps manage reliability
Predictive maintenance data is altering the plant landscape.
xiros B180 by Igus
The xiros B180 radial deep ball bearings are designed for vacuums, packaging equipment, household appliances and cleanroom technology.
The human factor in change management
Earn trust and show the benefits in building a case for CMMS.
The need for speed
In an accelerating supply chain, effective management of costs, people and data is becoming more crucial.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles April 22-28
Articles about the Product of the Year winners, why things break, data visualization, engineer career advice, and IEEE 1584-2018 were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from April 22-28. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Why things break: Just the facts
A root cause failure analysis takes the guesswork out of downtime
Bumper crop
Flex-N-Gate looks to grow its business and help Detroit’s rebounding manufacturing base.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles March 25-31
Articles about maintenance survey findings, NGV trucking, IEEE 1584-2018 changes, workplace fatalities, and AI-based maintenance were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from March 25-31. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles March 18-24
Articles about maintenance strategies, IEEE 1584-2018, maintenance survey findings, AI-based maintenance, and machine learning and maintenance were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from March 18-24. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles March 11-17
Articles about maintenance strategies, machine learning and maintenance, IEEE 1584-2018, AI-based maintenance, and a dust collection survey were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from March 11-17. Miss something? You can catch up here.
A race against time
Maintenance is valued, but aging equipment puts pressure on plants.
Aging dust collection equipment requires attention to maintenance
Donaldson study finds more system evaluation needed.
Flipping the script
Maintenance strategy requires technology—and a new mindset.
Machine learning takes maintenance to a new level
Strategy a compliment to predictive maintenance.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles February 25 to March 3
Articles about 2018 Salary Survey findings, conveyor maintenance, the top plant winner, and cybersecurity questions to ask during the digital transformation process were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from February 25 to March 3. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles February 18-24
Articles about 2018 Salary Survey findings, conveyor maintenance, the top plant winner, and cybersecurity questions to ask during the digital transformation process were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from February 18-24. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles February 11-17
Articles about conveyor maintenance, the top plant winner, data's role in manufacturing's future, future plant designs, and choosing the right electrical wiring were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from February 11-17. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Conveyor maintenance delivers reliability
A mix of strategies can keep the supply chain operating effectively
Supply chain security advice and guidelines
Supply chain security is crucial as data becomes more important to a company's success. Ten principles from the Charter of Trust and 17 baseline requirements for the supply chain are highlighted.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles January 28 to February 3
Articles about the top plant winner, clean water, modern warehouse innovations, Toyota Kata's benefits, and ERP testing were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from January 28 to February 3. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles January 21-27
Articles about the Product of the Year finalists, food and beverage facility security, develop an ERP business plan, regenerative solutions, and predictive maintenance growth were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from January 21-27. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles January 14-20
Articles about the Product of the Year finalists, food and beverage facility security, develop an ERP business plan, regenerative solutions, and predictive maintenance growth were Plant Engineering’s five most clicked articles from January 14-20. Miss something? You can catch up here.
Choosing between stripwound or corrugated metal hose
Stripwound or corrugated metal hose can provide major benefits for users working in harsh applications or applications that deal with extreme temperatures.
Auto industry’s change is deeply felt
Change is in the air in the automotive industry in more ways than one and the effects will be long-lasting in many ways.
Mazak receives 2018 Top Plant Award
Mazak embraces technology and innovation to deliver productivity to stay on the cutting edge of manufacturing.
Roller bearings and predictive analytics
Predictive maintenance is a powerful tool to keep the noise down with roller bearings and can reduce costly repairs.
Predictive maintenance market grows along with benefits
Tracking plant equipment health through data management a growing trend
Business process improvement project benefits valve manufacturer
A valve manufacturing company went through a business process improvement project that involved enterprise resource planning (ERP) evaluation and selection engagement.
Is service now what you sell?
IFS study finds aftermarket services a valuable profit center
Four reasons to use tubing rather than piping to convey material
Tubing can provide a user several advantages over piping to convey material such as being better suited to handle tougher regulations and providing the user lower overall long-term costs.
Is your maintenance program doomed to failure?
No maintenance program can succeed without effective inter-department communication and cooperation. Program discipline and management is just as important as choosing the type of maintenance program your facility utilizes.
Five why “nots”: Using more than the “5 whys” method for root cause analysis
Using 5 Whys alone may leave engineers with an incomplete root cause picture, which is why other methods should be considered to help solve the problems and keep them from recurring.
Unexpected causes of bearing failure
When bearings are maintained, they allow the machinery to run with very few problems, but when they fail, the motor fails too.
Using condition monitoring to forecast and diagnose problems
Careful condition monitoring by keeping track of any subtle changes in machines overtime can help avoid failures and costly downtime.
What are the benefits of preventative maintenance?
Preventative maintenance can help a plant reduce equipment failure, reduce downtime, and improve productivity.
Build a maintenance schedule in six steps
Manufacturers should build a weekly maintenance schedule that addresses potential conflicts and address overdue preventive maintenance (PM) tasks.
Five hats for reliability engineers
As a reliability engineer, there are several different functions that come with the job. This article will point out the five different hats that a reliability engineer will wear and the one that they should avoid.
The top 5 signs of a reliable plant
Having visited hundreds of manufacturing plants in the last 15 years, I have listed below the top 5 signs of a reliable plant.
Change: Don’t become another statistic
Have you achieved the outcomes from your investment in Lean that you expected? Here are four elements that, if incorporated into your approach to Lean initiatives, will reinforce your ability to achieve the outcomes you expect.
Six questions about your reliability vision that you need to answer
To drive effective change in your organization, deliver focus leadership.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles, February 16-22: Additive manufacturing, three pillars of OEE, facility maintenance planning, more
Articles about additive manufacturing, OEE pillars, facility maintenance planning, false positives in HiPot testing, and Industry 4.0 and the Internet of Things were Plant Engineering’s five most-clicked articles from last week, February 16-22. Were you out last week? Miss something? You can catch up here.
Five ideas that can drive success with reliability centered maintenance and equipment maintenance plans
See these five suggestions to make sure that your reliability centered maintenance and equipment maintenance plans are successful.
Maintaining the human machine
In the same way as you maintain your equipment, workers need updates on new strategies and technology. They need to operate efficiently. Above all, they must be part of a safe operation, and that safety must be ingrained in the production process.
3D: Adding to additive’s capabilities
Technology makes new materials, new designs possible.
Banning the ‘three Rs’ from our vocabulary
Over the last three years, there have been less than a handful of months where manufacturing failed to grow, and the current streak is starting to feel more like an expectation.
Nine reasons your facilities maintenance planning and scheduling effort isn’t giving you the benefits you expect
Every organization should use either a CMMS or work order management system to manage preventative maintenance work requests. However, facilities maintenance planning and scheduling effort may not always be delivered as intended.
Strategies to survive the skills gap
Use technology and human resources approaches to mitigate the effects of the retirement of trade professionals.
Construction data an asset for maintenance—but only if it’s shared
ARC Forum: Better quantity and quality of asset data an opportunity to reduce costs and improve uptime.
Setting a cadence for your failure analysis efforts
I have decided to address this topic because I believe that we are leaving a lot of value on the table with our failure analysis (RCFA, RCA, Problem Solving, 8D) efforts. Here is what I see when I interact with maintenance organizations (some or all of these may apply to you).
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles, February 2-8: System integration trends, selecting and applying VFDs, managers vs. leaders, more
Articles about system integration trends, selecting and applying VFDs, the difference between managers and leaders, PMI Index results, and Ethernet/IP links to plant productivity were Plant Engineering’s five most-clicked articles from last week, February 2-8. Were you out last week? Miss something? You can catch up here.
Removing obstructions to your plant’s workflow streams
Tackle moving plant information strategically across departments and locations.
Will Lean survive the next generation?
There are a few key variables between Millennials and previous generations when it comes to Lean adoption.
Top 10 signs your company just doesn’t get reliability
In honor of the new year, I have listed some of the sure-fire signs that your company may not be ready for reliability.
The three pillars of OEE
Build technical, process, and supervisory skills to gain operational knowledge.
PMI index slips again due to supply slowdown
Despite overall growth, the dock workers' slowdown in California are impacting inventories.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles, January 26 to February 1: Value stream mapping, managers vs. leaders, PM task frequency, more
Articles about value stream mapping, the difference between managers and leaders, choosing the right PM frequency, designing packaging from the outside in, and five food processing plant trends were Plant Engineering’s five most-clicked articles from last week, January 26 to February 1. Were you out last week? Miss something? You can catch up here.
Energy efficient doorways
The door's high-speed operation minimizes air exchange, resulting in buildings needing less energy to maintain room temperature and comfort.
Spark resistant air hoists
The AW series hoists come with gear box and chain lubricants for food processing, food handling, pharmaceutical manufacturing. and hygienic environments.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles, January 19-25: Deploying GFCIs, designing packaging, managers vs. leaders, more
Articles about deploying GFCIs in the real world; designing packaging from the outside in; the difference between managers and leaders; safety and risk assessment benefits; and Lean manufacturing benefits were Plant Engineering’s five most-clicked articles from last week, January 19-25. Were you out last week? Miss something? You can catch up here.
Value stream mapping: Lessons from the front
Value system mapping provides the foundation for a plan that should look out no more than six months. Understand the process of value system mapping to achieve Lean improvement.
3 ways to build top-level APM commitments
Like all other BPI initiatives, asset performance management (APM) relies on top leadership to establish the culture where the BPI projects can thrive and be successful. With APM there are numerous ways leaders can have either a positive or negative impact on the success.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles, January 12-18: Managers vs. leaders, 2015 manufacturing predictions, deploying GFCIs, more
Articles about the difference between managers and leaders; 2015 manufacturing predictions; deploying GFCIs in the real world; tips to improve your KPIs; and PID loop tuning advice were Plant Engineering’s five most-clicked articles from last week, January 12-18. Were you out last week? Miss something? You can catch up here.
Is 2015 the year you will “think” Lean?
Considering what your customers really want and the latest market trends is the first step in thinking Lean.
Abnormality reporting is the key to proactive maintenance
If we do not report the abnormalities as soon as they are detected, we are robbing the organization of the time they need to react appropriately to the abnormality.
Pipe wrap repair system
The SuperWrap II wrapping system uses higher density carbon and glass reinforcement, only three or four spirals or wraps are required for each repair.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles, January 5-11: PID loop tuning advice, improving your KPI, saving energy, more
Articles about PID loop tuning advice, improving your KPI, saving energy, reducing preventive maintenance costs for your food processing plant, and workflow improvement in maintenance were Plant Engineering’s five most-clicked articles from last week, January 5-11. Were you out last week? Miss something? You can catch up here.
The double-edged sword: Saving without sacrificing
In planning maintenance strategies in 2015, managers will have to balance the demand to save money and resources without sacrificing quality.
Ten tips to immediately improve your key performance indicators
Plan, think and manage your way to a better KPI process in the new year.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles, December 29 to January 4: Shutdown managers and critical path, PID loop tuning advice, choosing the right PM task frequency, more
Articles about shutdown managers and critical path, PID loop tuning advice, choosing the right PM task frequency, audit costs and benefits, and the 2014 Top Plant winners were Plant Engineering’s five most-clicked articles from last week, December 29 to January 4. Were you out last week? Miss something? You can catch up here.
Coordinated constraint management vs. chaotic improvement
Constraint management is based on the understanding that the rate of throughput, revenue, or work is limited by a minimum of one constraining process or process step and management must focus only on increasing the flow at the bottleneck in order to achieve optimum levels of throughput.
Key steps to workflow improvement in maintenance
It’s impossible to address the organizational behaviors that encourage or discourage change without first understanding your organization’s culture.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles, December 22-28: PID loop tuning, Top Plant 2014 winners, more
Articles about PID loop tuning advice, the 2014 Top Plant winners, and audit costs and benefits workplace were Plant Engineering’s five most-clicked articles from last week, December 22-28. Were you out last week? Miss something? You can catch up here.
Three things all shutdown managers need to know about their critical path
There is much opportunity to be gained by using some simple tools to calculate and manage to the critical path of the shutdown. Not the “gut-feel critical path” but rather the “mathematically calculated critical path."
Benchmarking and assessments: 8 questions that will improve your studies and results
Here are eight points to consider when assessing your performance and benchmarking with others.
Choose the right PM task frequency
There are two main components of an effective maintenance plan: the type of maintenance task and the task interval.
Do the boiler house walkabout
The boiler house is the engine of any steam system. Make sure yours is in good working order with a stroll around to check that vital maintenance and testing is being regularly performed.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles, December 15-21: Workplace safety trends, Top Plant 2014 winners, PID loop tuning, more
Articles about workplace safety trends, Top Plant 2014 winners, PID loop tuning advice, workplace safety trends, and manufacturing growth were Plant Engineering’s five most-clicked articles from last week, December 15-21. Were you out last week? Miss something? You can catch up here.
Four “-isms” that might be killing your reliability
There are four "-isms" that may be running around in your plant and limiting your ability to improve up-time, quality and reliability. The first step is to recognize that they exist and then we can determine a plan to mitigate or eliminate it.
Wet electrostatic precipitators an effective technology
In an effort to reduce emissions produced by various industries, plant designers are turning with renewed interest to modern wet electrostatic precipitators (WESPs).
2014 Top Plant winners announced
Victaulic and Mother Parkers are honored with Plant Engineering's top manufacturing honor.
Top Plant: Victaulic Forks facility: Connecting the pipes
When it comes to safety and manufacturing excellence, Victaulic is doing much more than connecting the dots.
Top Plant: Mother Parkers: Recipe for growth
Mother Parkers is managing growth and brewing success.
Maintenance benefits just the tip of the iceberg
One of the areas in a manufacturing environment that deserves attention is the fleet of forklifts used in and around the facility.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles, December 8-14: PID loop tuning, workplace safety trends, managers and leaders, more
Articles about PID loop tuning advice, workplace safety trends, the differences between managers and leaders, valve failure solutions, and selecting inductive proximity switches were Plant Engineering’s five most-clicked articles from last week, December 1-7. Were you out last week? Miss something? You can catch up here.
Simplify troubleshooting to reduce downtime
By utilizing modern electrical power management systems (EPMS), organizations can go a step further to proactively access vital performance details including circuit loading, peak demand, and equipment status.
2014 Best Practices
Mastering the fundamentals means looking at all of the small things you can do to get better at your craft. In manufacturing, we call these Best Practices.
Precision Maintenance: Belts, Chains, and Sprockets
Today's post will add the element of precision to your program.
AME: Will Lean survive the next generation?
As we experience generational shifts in the workforce across North America, we have to start considering how this shift in generational occupancy will impact the deployment, integration and acceptance of Lean.
Kicking inefficiencies to the curb with better budget modeling, asset mapping, and more
By utilizing these CMMS capabilities maintenance professionals gain the upper hand for meeting the practical demands on their departments as well as the strategic goals of their organizations.
Is it possible to over-automate processes in APM?
In the article I explore the possibility of over-automating the APM process and the cause for it.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles, December 1-7: PID loop tuning, rules for pumps and fans, plant workflow obstructions, more
Articles about PID loop tuning advice, rules for pumps and fans, removing obstructions for plant workflow streams, integrating vs. self-regulating fundamentals, and selecting inductive proximity switches were Plant Engineering’s five most-clicked articles from last week, December 1-7. Were you out last week? Miss something? You can catch up here.
Four differences between managers and leaders
There are four distinct differences between leaders and managers. We believe we have a world full of leaders, yet for some strange reason, there are very few managers who are leaders. Those who do meet this criteria, that will be discussed in this blog, are truly a blessing to work with.
Facts and statistics on growth, skills, reliability, and manufacturing
Data to help communicate the need for both education and retention of talent in your facility.
Venturi cartridge series
Cartridge series replace failed or clogged multi-stage pumps to maximize productivity and minimize downtime.
New orders, employment bolster November PMI
Index at 58.7%, marking 18 straight months of growth for manufacturing.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles, November 24-30: Workplace safety trends, rules and regulations for pumps, maintenance manufacturing traits, more
Articles about workplace safety trends, rules for pumps and fans, the 10 traits of high maintenance manufacturing organizations, innovation in management, and electrical power measurement were Plant Engineering’s five most-clicked articles from last week, November 24-30. Were you out last week? Miss something? You can catch up here.
Why your expansion plan needs supply chain modeling
A supply chain analysis can lead to better decision-making and more efficient capital expenditures. Here are some specific questions to answer related to your supply chain.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles, November 17-23: Maintenance manufacturing traits, Lean manufacturing growth, dynamic logistics in manufacturing, more
Articles about the 10 traits of high maintenance manufacturing organizations, the four tiers of growth in Lean manufacturing, dynamic logistics in manufacturing, workplace safety trends, and the plant reliability improvement efforts were Plant Engineering’s five most-clicked articles from last week, November 17-23. Were you out last week? Miss something? You can catch up here.
Limit system condensate generation and removal through efficient desuperheater design
As certain processes and steam turbines demand the use of higher pressure and higher temperature boilers, superheated steam may be too hot for equipment with structural temperature limitations. Therefore reversing that process becomes just as important because there will always be cases where superheated steam is too hot and too dry especially in power and process applications.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles, November 10-16: Determining a motor’s load, maintenance manufacturing traits, innovation as management, more
Articles about determining a motor’s load, 10 traits of high maintenance manufacturing organizations, innovation as a management process, automation controllers for real-time monitoring and efficiency, and the four tiers of growth in Lean manufacturing were Plant Engineering’s five most-clicked articles from last week, November 10-16. Were you out last week? Miss something? You can catch up here.
5 secrets to a successful operator care process
Giving your operators a reason and purpose for what you do is the value of a simple key performance indicator (KPI). This blog presents you with 5 secrets that will tremendously increase your chances of success.
The 10 traits of high maintenance manufacturing organizations
Seeing the Forbes article on The (Unlucky) 13 Traits of High Maintenance People made me think. What are the traits of a high maintenance manufacturing organization or facilities? Let’s look at 10 of the 13 categories from the article but in the context of manufacturing and reliability.
“Ps” for profitable plant reliability improvement efforts
I have listed nine things that I would focus on and they all start with P for ease of remembering.
Four tiers of growth in Lean journey
Manufacturer builds daily management into continuous improvement process.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles, November 3-9: Determining a motor’s load, common engineering mistakes, electrical power measurement, more
Articles about determining a motor’s load, common engineering mistakes, electrical power measurement on motors, risk factors for automation projects, and bypassing safety systems were Plant Engineering’s five most-clicked articles from last week, November 3-9. Were you out last week? Miss something? You can catch up here.
Safety is good business
A sound safety strategy can save money and drive productivity increase, research finds.
Industry trend talk: the steam and condensate trap
This is the first of a four series article on “The Steam and Condensate Loop from Generation to Recovery.” It is intended to give a brief, nontechnical overview of a steam plant. It offers an overall explanation of how the different parts of a steam plant relate to one another – and represents useful reading for anyone who is unfamiliar with the topic of steam theory or steam plant equipment.
Additive manufacturing award announced
The International Additive Manufacturing Award (IAMA) competition recognizes innovations in additive manufacturing for industrial applications.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles, October 27 to November 2: Common engineering mistakes, determining a motor’s load, manufacturing and reshoring, more
Articles about common engineering mistakes, determining a motor’s load, rebuilding manufacturing through reshoring, two-way radios in industrial settings, and IT and OT convergence were Plant Engineering’s five most-clicked articles from last week, October 27 to November 2. Were you out last week? Miss something? You can catch up here.
PMI Index rebounds to 59.0% in October
All segments show strength as manufacturing continues 2014 growth spurt
Antistatic power transmission belt
The Poly Chain Carbon Volt belt is engineered to reduce safety risks in explosive environments by providing longer-lasting static conductivity.
Telescoping light pole system
System offers an alternative to lighting installation and maintenance
Webcast will discuss identifying, managing critical assets
Nov. 6 presentation focus on improving maintenance and reliability performance.
Virtual reality, cordless tools, and LED technology presented at the 2014 Assembly Show
Technologies designed to improve assembly line design, safety, and efficiency were presented at the 2014 Assembly Show held on October 28-30 at Rosemont, Ill. Virtual reality, cordless power tools, and LED technology are the focuses of the show.
Education without application is just entertainment: 3 things that can help create a return on education
Here are three ways to help your organization create a return on your educational expenses.
Chemical water treatment: the essential vitamins required for a “healthy” steam and condensate loop
A steam and condensate loop acts like a living breathing organism; taking in water to produce steam and utilizing that steam for work, then returning a portion of the used steam as condensate to be reutilized.
Bringing jobs back to America: Rebuilding manufacturing through reshoring
David Lippert and Timothy Hutzel's keynote speech at the 2014 Assembly Show talked about reshoring and revitalizing the American manufacturing industry.
CMMS with OPC interface creates real-time savings
Integrating a CMMS with an open platform communications (OPC) server can lessen breakdowns and manual entry, helping maintenance managers get information in real time.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles, October 20-26: Building safety into maintenance, preventive maintenance, welding helmets, more
Articles about building maintenance into safety, setting up a smart-tool preventive maintenance program, welding helmets, and determining a motor’s actual load, and the 2014 Leaders Under 40 were Plant Engineering’s five most-clicked articles from last week, October 20-26. Were you out last week? Miss something? You can catch up here.
The top 3 reasons why our work order feedback loop is broken
Here are 3 tips that will increase your chances of receiving real and meaningful feedback on your job plans.
Two things engineers consistently get wrong
There are two concepts that consistently show up as weak areas with engineers in manufacturing environments. The first is true in-depth "root causes" problem solving and the second is relying on technical solutions rather than culture change to solve problems.
Water meters
Certified to meet ANSI/NSF 61 for materials safety and ANSI/NSF 372 for lead free compliance by the Water Quality Association.
Eight steps in water treatment
Whether for a new food processing plant or to upgrade an existing facility, determining appropriate water treatment is a vital first step to protect and maintain plant systems.
A beginner’s guide to Lean
Many companies started with 5S events are stalled or, worse, going backward. See what you should do to establish a lasting Lean program.
Education, training are 2 keys to wider IoT deployment
At the 2014 Internet of Things World Forum, Cisco officials say creating global connectivity in a rapidly-evolving technology will require a deeper talent pool.
Three areas that drive safety performance
While safety is always the number-one priority in every manufacturing plant, ensuring safety and reaching zero-injury performance remains one of the great challenges for plant managers, especially as it relates to maintenance work.
Plant managers need financial, operational data
Plant floor workers need to understand the financial implications of their decisions so they can prevent the problem from ever occurring.
Overcome obstacles to build a reliable supplier network
Associations and buying groups can help alleviate issues faced by small and mid-sized manufacturers when trying to develop a smoother supply chain.
Checklist: Set up a smart-tool preventive maintenance program
Here are a few tips for creating an effective preventive maintenance system on your plant floor.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles, October 6-12: Leaders Under 40, safety and reliability, Schneider Electric acquisition, more
Articles about the 2014 Leaders Under 40, the relationship between safety and reliability, Schneider Electric’s planned acquisition of InStep Software, welding cells in manufacturing, and worker development were Plant Engineering’s five most-clicked articles from last week, October 6-12. Were you out last week? Miss something? You can catch up here.
Digital multifunctional environmental meters
The RH87 is a digital multifunctional environmental meter which combines the function of sound level, luminometer, relative humidity meter, temperature meter and anemometer.
Three reasons why wrench time is not a benchmarking tool
In this article, the author presents ciritcal issues and misunderstandings about wrench time.
Corrosion protection technology
Eco-efficient, compact, space-saving and unobtrusive inhibitor derived from sustainable resources.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles, September 29 to October 5: Schneider Electric acquisition, Leaders Under 40, data-driven efficiency, more
Articles about Schneider Electric’s planned acquisition, the 2014 Leaders Under 40, data-driven efficiency rewards, welding cells in manufacturing, and worker development were Plant Engineering’s five most-clicked articles from last week, September 29 to October 5. Were you out last week? Miss something? You can catch up here.
Remote switch actuator for circuit breakers.
The RSA-161A actuator, designed for all 3-in. handle versions of the Type L circuit breaker mechanisms, operates circuit breakers or interrupters of 75-250A at up to 600V.
PROACT V.4 Root Cause Analysis
With this release the PROACT V.4 Root Cause Analysis enables workers at all levels and in a large cross section of business, industry and healthcare to become highly skilled analysts.
MicroPress rack and pinion press
MicroPress MPZ 500-30 rack and pinion press is a hand-operated press which Image courtesy of Mäder Pressenparticularly suitable for precise fitting work in light engineering.
Quaternary Ammonium sanitizer/disinfectant
The next generation of Quaternary Ammonium compounds offers many advantages such as corrosion inhibition, strong cleaning ability/surfactant properties, rapid wetting and good hard-water tolerance.
Stainless steel flat nozzle
The Stainless Steel Flat Super Air Nozzle, with its flat 1" (25mm) wide airstream with a strong blowing force of 16 ounces and stainless steel construction makes it ideal for corrosive, high temperature, food, pharmaceutical, and chemical environments.
PMI growth rate slips, but stays strong
September index slips to 56.6%, but stays on solid path overall.
Analyzing the relationship between safety and reliability: Q&A Session
Webcast Q&A session with presenter Shon Isenhour, CMRP, Eruditio and The Institute at Patriot’s Point
Best practices panel: attraction, retention, and advancement of women in manufacturing
Lisa Blais, Christie Fleming, Natalie Panek, Diana Peters, and Karen Norheim comprised the 2014 Women in Manufacturing Summit best practices panel, which covered topics on recruiting and retaining women in the manufacturing industry.
Strengthening the global competitiveness of U.S. manufacturing
Chandra Brown, deputy assistant secretary for manufacturing for the U.S. Department of Commerce, spoke about the U.S. manufacturing sector and how the U.S. government is trying to strengthen its global presence, at the 2014 Women in Manufacturing (WiM) Summit. Exports are good for manufacturers, and companies with women on the board of directors have stronger financials.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles, September 22-28: OSHA violations, lean manufacturing, welding cells, more
Articles about the top 10 OSHA violations, lean manufacturing, welding cells in manufacturing, evaluating cleaning strategies, and the 2014 Leaders Under 40 were Plant Engineering’s five most-clicked articles from last week, September 22-28. Were you out last week? Miss something? You can catch up here.
TWI: harness the power of collaborative standard work to boost lean effectiveness
Training Within Industry (TWI) is a crucial element in lean, continuous improvement and Toyota Production System (TPS) success. Companies can achieve high level competitiveness by consistently embedding TWI throughout operations.
Dual laser infrared thermometer
The IR2000A thermometer has 6.6 ft. drop protection, dual laser targeting, tight distance-to-spot ratio, a wide temperature measurement range, and auto temperature scan.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles, September 15-21: Leaders Under 40, Schneider Electric, safety data collection, more
Articles about the 2014 Leaders Under 40, Schneider Electric moving its corporate HQ, safety data collection, STEM education, and understanding cavitation were Plant Engineering’s five most-clicked articles from last week, September 15-21. Were you out last week? Miss something? You can catch up here.
Evaluate cleaning strategies to improve productivity
Reliability, safety can increase with a clean plant environment.
5 tips for improved coaching skills
Help your employees gain the skills they need to succeed
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles, September 8-14: IMTS technology, Robotics and 3D printing, STEM fundraiser, more
Articles about the first two days of IMTS 2014, a STEM fundraiser in Chicago, salt research, and STEM opportunities for students were Plant Engineering’s five most-clicked articles from last week, September 8-14. Were you out last week? Miss something? You can catch up here.
10 questions for successful shutdown managers
It may be hard to believe, but the success or failure of your shutdown is determined long before you shut down the equipment and begin the event. If we are to have a successful shutdown, we must have clear and repeatable answers to these 10 questions at a minimum.
Thriving companies at IMTS are investing more in technology
IMTS Day 3: Aerospace and standards highlighted at Chicago conferences.
Robotics, 3D printing take center stage at IMTS
Day 2: precision an important factor, whether building a 3D model or programming a robot.
Nine pavilions at IMTS let attendees focus on specific needs
IMTS 2014 is organized into nine pavilions with specific focuses on areas like additive manufacturing, metal cutting, quality assurance, and gear generation. Link to roundup of Day 1 coverage.
Manufacturing hits three-year high; One Voice working to keep air in sector’s sails
Even as manufacturing booms, the struggle to find manufacturing workers remains a significant problem. One Voice is actively seeking solutions to the problem by holding numerous advocacy campaigns and events.
IMTS to attract 100,000 manufacturing professionals
IMTS 2014 at Chicago's McCormick Place will host more than 100,000 industrial decision makers from more than 110 countries.
Robot series to be featured at IMTS
Universal Robots' third generation of the UR5 and UR10 robot arms will be features at IMTS 2014 and are designed to adapt advanced safety settings to each specific application it is used for.
Integrated machine control platform at IMTS 2014
Modular automation solution unifies CNC, PLC, HMI, robotics, safety and more
PMI Index hits three-year high
“Awesome” results from manufacturing as benchmark climbs to 59.0%
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles, August 25-31: GM plant revival, changing plant floor, asset management laws, more
Articles about a GM plant’s revival in Michigan, the changing plant floor, the three laws of asset management, effectively maintaining your steam system, and delivering data from the plant floor were Plant Engineering’s five most-clicked articles from last week, August 25-31. Were you out last week? Miss something? You can catch up here.
Servo drives to debut at IANA
Elmo Motion Control will exhibit its Gold Twitter and Gold Drum HV servo drives at Industrial Automation North America (IANA) at IMTS in Chicago, Booth E-4971, September 8-13, 2014.
A technology boom for manufacturing
Hannover Fairs’ Larry Turner looks at how automation is driving global change, and global growth
IMTS spotlight: Three major events under one roof bring the world to Chicago
2014 IMTS Show combine machine tools, automation, motors and drives into a can’t miss biannual event
Flexible, adaptable automation on display at IMTS
AMT’s Doug Woods on the future of manufacturing and how to drive change and innovation.
Serial interface converters
The SC-232 series converters feature Send Data Control (SDC) which automatically enables the RS485 driver when data is present on the RS-232 side.
Saying the same thing differently: a tip for change initiatives
The first major issue some organizations run into is that they create the vision without a full understanding by each of the involved parties as to what details the vision conveys.
The heart of engagement
Sur-Seal rebuilt its culture, one Lego block at a time
As growth accelerates, manufacturing is poised to thrive
McGladrey’s Karen Kurek to open 2014 Global Automation and Manufacturing Summit on Sept. 10
Advanced manufacturing in Chicago
Dr. William King of DMDII will present at the Global Automation and Manufacturing Summit on Sept. 10 at 3:30 p.m.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles, August 18-24: GM plant revival, safety data collection, GM recall crisis, more
Articles about a GM plant’s revival in Michigan, safety data collection, the GM recall crisis, machine safety tips for the plant floor, and delivering data from the plant were Plant Engineering’s five most-clicked articles from last week, August 18-24. Were you out last week? Miss something? You can catch up here.
How to get the most out of your System Integrator
Tim Jager of DMC will present at the Global Automation and Manufacturing Summit on Sept. 10 at 9:15 a.m.
Renowned leadership and reliability experts to headline SMRP annual conference
The 22nd annual conference is expected to bring over 1,000 maintenance and reliability professionals.
Rotating seals or lip seals?
Analyze lifecycle costs, use to pick the right application
Measuring the right stuff in your Lean organization: why a fresh look makes sense
Take a critical look at your organization’s key metrics. You may discover the need to revamp how your company measures performance, to be aligned with today’s business environment.
Summit Webcast: The Building Blocks of Manufacturing Excellence
Mick Wilz, Director of Enterprise Excellence at Sur-Seal Corporation, will talk about building employee engagement at the 2014 Global Automation and Manufacturing Summit at IMTS 2014 in Chicago.
Advanced Manufacturing Center focused on five emerging trends
The Advanced Manufacturing Center's (AMC) presentation will focus on the five trends and technologies that are moving manufacturing forward like additive manufacturing and data-driven manufacturing.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles, August 11-17: Delivering data, workforce development, reliability lessons, more
Articles about delivering data from the plant floor, workforce development research, reliability lessons from the aircraft industry, maintaining your steam system, and Lean maintenance advice were Plant Engineering’s five most-clicked articles from last week, August 11-17. Were you out last week? Miss something? You can catch up here.
From bankruptcy to rebirth
In a summer of turmoil at GM, one Michigan plant keeps building on its second chance
Safety data collection process as important as what’s collected
Take the system beyond paper to process hazard analysis.
Additive manufacturing takes center stage at IMTS
The Additive Manufacturing Workshop at IMTS on Sept. 9 is designed to bring together manufacturing professionals who are interested in or are already applying additive manufacturing as a production resource.
10 ways to ruin your PdM program
While Preventive Maintenance only applies to at best 11% of your components, Predictive Maintenance (PdM) applies to a much larger percentage of your equipment, and it requires a much larger investment in equipment and training.
TRAM conference looks at advanced machining issues
The Trends in Advanced Machining, Manufacturing and Materials (TRAM) '14 will take place at IMTS at Chicago's McCormick Place on Sept. 10-11 and focus on upcoming trends and advancements in manufacturing technology within the aerospace industry.
Delivering data from the plant floor
Digital technology brings asset performance information throughout the enterprise
In her own words: Mary Barra and the GM recall crisis
New CEO at GM spends her first year dealing with the recall crisis
IMTS Conference offers solutions to manufacturing issues
The IMTS 2014 Conference will feature 69 one-hour presentations that will provide solutions to current manufacturing problems like process innovations and alternative manufacturing processes.
5 tips to effectively maintain your steam system
Here are five basic tips that everyone could be applying to increase productivity and achieve more ‘bang for their buck’ when it comes to steam systems.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles, August 4-10: Compressed air, Workforce development, steam production, more
Articles about compressed air demand, workforce development research, high-efficiency steam production, asset management laws, and M2M to IoT on the plant floor were Plant Engineering’s five most-clicked articles from last week, August 4-10. Were you out last week? Miss something? You can catch up here.
AMT’s Emerging Technology Center to deliver a 3D car
IMTS partner Local Motors will build and deliver the first direct digital manufactured vehicle at IMTS 2014 at the Emerging Technology Center (ETC).
IANA, MDA pavilions focus on automation, motion excellence
Industrial Automation North America (IANA) is returning in 2014 as a one-day seminar with manufacturing experts providing insights using automation.
Expediting costs: How much is too much?
Find the true expense involved to understand the direct cost
Achieving strategic success through people-powered excellence
AME's 30th annual International Excellence Inside Conference will be held on Nov. 10–14 in Jacksonville, Florida.
AME: Lean lassoes, roping in sustained results
Nearly two decades of integrating Lean across a variety of industries has shown that incremental improvement is the best way to engage employees, sustain results, and create measurable progress.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles, July 28 to August 3: Industrial communication, control system designs, workforce development, more
Articles about industrial communication boards, centralized and distributed control system designs, workforce development research, key elements in selecting lubrication, and employee engagement were Plant Engineering’s five most-clicked articles from last week, July 28 to August 3.
A balanced improvement strategy
Focusing your business strategy on the 4Cs will help leadership to think globally and act locally.
The three laws of asset management
How manufacturers can benefit from the adoption of ISO 55000
The 10 mistakes that ruin preventive maintenance
A good preventative maintenance program will help work to ensure the inherent designed reliability of your equipment.
Machine safety tips to prevent plant injuries
Machinery can increase production with less labor, but heavy machinery also presents safety hazards and workers must be fully trained and aware of the machine operations to avoid injuries
How to make your dairy plant more sustainable
Switching to sustainable practices for your dairy plant not only helps the planet; it can bring real benefits to your product quality, your reputation and your bottom line.
Advancing my career through the CMRP
The CMRP of the Year awards were established by the Society for Maintenance and Reliability Professionals to recognize individuals for their leadership capabilities, achievements and commitment to continuing education.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles, July 21-27: Workforce development, employee engagement, cavitation, more
Articles about workforce development research, employee engagement, cavitation, compressed air, and key elements in selecting lubrication were Plant Engineering’s five most-clicked articles from last week, July 21-27. Were you out last week? Miss something? You can catch up here.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles, July 14-20: Arc flash, compressed air, manufacturing safety strategies, more
Articles about reducing arc flash hazards, compressed air, safety concerns in manufacturing, propane truck maintenance, and employee engagement were Plant Engineering’s five most-clicked articles from last week, July 14-20. Were you out last week? Miss something? You can catch up here.
Restart, renew your Lean transition
Five checklist items to begin rekindling the power of Lean.
Right-angle servo gear reducers
AutomationDirect's SureGear line of precision servo gearboxes has expanded to include right-angle gear reducers.
AME: Building a more skilled labor market
How the manufacturing sector can close the skills gap.
Summertime and the skills gap
Bolstered by good industry performance news, the manufacturing sector seeks new workers.
Standardization: Good for you but not for me!
How to drive the scientific discovery into maintenance planning.
Top safety concerns in the manufacturing industry
Manufacturing facilities are riddled with risks, both hidden and out in the open.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles, June 30 to July 6: Motor power factor, energy efficiency, employee engagement, more
Articles about induction motor power, energy efficiency for small and mid-sized manufacturers, employee engagement, the myths about bearings, and reducing HVAC energy consumption were Plant Engineering’s five most-clicked articles from last week, June 30 to July 6. Were you out last week? Miss something? You can catch up here.
Why your organization should change from reactive to proactive culture
Most companies talk a good talk and say the right things when prompted, but in the end do not follow good basic principles of equipment and process reliability.
PMI a mixed bag for June, as index slips to 55.3%
One-tenth point drop continues steady growth, but consumer spending a concern
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles, June 23-29
Articles about arc flash solutions, the myths about bearings, key elements in selecting lubrication, practical manufacturing safety strategies, and energy monitoring trends were Plant Engineering’s five most-clicked articles from last week, June 23-29. Were you out last week? Miss something? You can catch up here.
Surface conditioning: 5 questions to pick the right media
Follow the logic to ensure the right decision is made to complete the job
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles, June 16-22
Articles about debunking bearing myths, three key elements in selecting lubrication, remote energy monitoring improving plant performance, reducing HVAC energy consumption with FHP and VFD operations, and energy monitoring trends were Plant Engineering’s five most-clicked articles from last week, June 16-22. Were you out last week? Miss something? You can catch up here.
10 things your equipment operators can do to improve reliability
Here are the 10 things your operators can do today to improve the reliability of your equipment.
3 steps toward end-to-end traceability capabilities
Regardless of your industry, improved product traceability is important in enabling better customer response and handling operational issues quickly and effectively.
AME: Conquering the roadblocks to acceptance of Lean
There are several strategies that can move you beyond the leaky bucket syndrome and increase confidence and value in Lean integration.
Ultrasonic flow meters
CSLFC Ultrasonic Flow Meters, available in various pipe sizes, are bi-directional, with field selectable flow ranges to 3000 GPM (11000 LPM), and are accurate to ± 0.75% of full scale.
Degreasing and VOC-exempt solvent
Elevance Clean 1200 is a degreasing and VOC-exempt solvent for industrial degreasing applications targeted toward heavy manufacturing, transportation maintenance and repair operations (MRO), and industrial food processing.
Electronic cleaner
ElectriCorr VpCI-238/239 is powerful electronic cleaner, provides instant, long-term, multi-metal corrosion protection.
Break-over torque wrenches
These break-over type torque wrenches, used to precisely fasten connections between components and systems, are suitable for multiple RF connector types
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles, June 9-15
Articles about preventing arc flash incidents, energy monitoring trends, remote energy monitoring improving plant performance, real-time data, and correcting induction motor power factor were Plant Engineering’s five most-clicked articles from last week, June 9-15. Were you out last week? You can catch up here.
Manufacturing safety: 12 practical strategies
Planning for safety is crucial to protecting your workers and facilities from accidents and mishaps. Taking steps now to ensure your workers are safe from injury protects yourself from liability. Below are 12 tactics for improving safety in manufacturing facilities.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles, May 12-18
Articles about Schneider Electric accelerating its transformation, safety in a 5S system, contract maintenance strategies, electric motor power measurement, and safety automation were Plant Engineering's most-clicked articles from last week, May 12-18. Were you out last week? Miss something? You can catch up here.
Three ways to improve your proactive maintenance plan
Plant managers should challenge old beliefs about maintenance and adopt new ones.
Global reshoring efforts aim to boost manufacturing and production
Make it smart, and make it here!” These are rallying words heard around the world regarding keeping manufacturing and production jobs within their respective countries. The following are global efforts now under way:
Three ways to transform a manufacturing facility’s management and operations
Bombardier Aerospace, a manufacturer of commercial and business aircraft, was consistently over budget and laying off employees before instituting three key management and operational changes to improve their facility.
Three ways to add measurable value to a manufacturing organization
How using a maintenance planner can increase wrench time, scheduled compliance, and make the manufacturing floor a more safe and efficient work environment.
Contract maintenance: 5 ways to keep things humming in a cost-effective model
With manpower in high demand, fewer highly qualified personnel are available in the labor pool. More and more operators recognize the value of a resident maintenance program, offering guaranteed uptime, guaranteed staffing, and limitless access to OEM engineers and support staff.
Steam project installation options: What works?
The survey has been completed. A list of repairs or upgrades has been identified, capital has been spent to identify the problems, and the payback analysis has been performed. Now what?
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles, April 27 to May 4
Were you out last week? Miss something? Here are Plant Engineering's five most-clicked articles from last week, April 27 to May 4, including articles about safety hazards to avoid in manufacturing jobs, how the Internet of Things is connected to the Zebra acquisition, an Automation in Manufacturing conference update, using IPD methods to complete construction projects, and moving to a condition-based program.
High bay aluminum LED
The High Bay LED fixture is manufactured from a solid piece of anodized, extruded aluminum that includes ribbed fins at the top to further increase surface area.
Oil-injected screw compressors
The Neos proprietary drive technology for oil-injected screw compressors provides variable speed drives in the 50-125 hp range.
IP 67-rated sensors
The R/IR sensors are for zero pressure accumulation applications.
2-D barcode reader for harsh factory floor conditions
The DataMan 8050 Series is designed with a ruggedized housing to handle harsh factory floor conditions.
Vertical storage and retrieval system
The Tower automated vertical storage and retrieval system can help save 75% of floor space with a high-density storage solution.
Magnetic drill
The Slugger JCM 200 U Portable Magnetic Drill is ideally suited for on-site construction, MRO in-plant applications, workshops, and fabricating operations.
Portable magnetic drill
The Slugger JCM 200 U Portable Magnetic Drill is ideally suited for on-site construction, MRO in-plant applications, workshops, and fabricating operations.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles, April 20-26
Were you out last week? Miss something? Here are Plant Engineering's five most-clicked articles from last week, April 20-26, including articles about reducing HVAC energy consumption, manufacturing safety hazards to avoid, operating NEMA Premium motors, electric motor power, and evolving SCADA toward energy management.
Automation in Manufacturing conference looks at robotics on the rise
First AMT-sponsored event on May 15 to feature NASA engineer, aerospace experts
2014 NAME award nominations now open
Deadline is June 30 to have your plant recognized for maintenance, operational excellence
Using integrated project delivery to optimize construction success
The IPD process can be successfully used for grassroots projects, facility expansions, major upfits, and relocation projects. For many, the IPD system reduces project risk, delivers predictable results, and maximizes the effectiveness of capital funding.
Six serious safety hazards to avoid in manufacturing jobs
Almost no work environment is as hazardous as manufacturing, but if you know what to look for, you may be better able to protect yourself and your workers from injury.
Best practices: Turbo-compressor control monitoring
Coverage of turbo-compressor surge and turbo-compressor condition monitoring tends to be popular, but topics related to turbo-compressor control can be just as vital. Here are some of the best products and practices used in the field.
Electric actuators
The PC Series by Thomson Industries Inc. is a series of electric linear actuators for continuous-duty applications.
I/O module
The 750-658 I/O module by Wago links CAN field devices and provides a gateway between a CAN network and other fieldbuses (e.g., Ethernet or Profibus), leveraging the flexibility of the fieldbus.
Industrial PC
The IPC 6641, manufactured by Heidenhain, is an industrial PC for machine tools.
Fluid analyzer
The LNF Q200 Series analyzers, benchtop units by Spectro Inc. aim to provide particle size, count, and shape data
Punchdown tool
The Cushion-Grip Impact Punchdown Tool & Blade, produced by Klein Tools, incorporates a cushion-grip handle, hi/lo impact settings and an inherently long shaft for reaching into narrow/crowded blocks.
Artificial intelligence devices now entering the marketplace
Here are some new consumer artificial intelligence breakthroughs entering the robotics marketplace.
AME: MMI releases manufacturing trends for 2014-2015
Jacob Prak, CEO of Michigan Manufacturing International (MMI), provided an overview of manufacturing trends for the next 12 months. A mechanical engineer, Prak founded MMI in 1991. He has seen many changes over the last 23 years and is well-positioned to provide a comprehensive overview of the trends in manufacturing.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles, April 6-12
Were you out last week? Miss something? Here are Plant Engineering's five most-clicked articles from last week, April 6-12, including articles about Microsoft XP, the Transatlantic Free Trade Agreement, Hannover Messe conference coverage, and industrial cybersecurity.
Is your maintenance organization centralized or decentralized?
Why some organizations would benefit more by choosing just one.
Preventing disasters: maintenance reliability
Why aren't we hearing reliability engineers evaluate the Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 disaster on news outlets?
The art of motion control
Everyone talks about motion control as a way to deliver precision machine movement throughout a variety of manufacturing uses.
Two ways to improve manufacturing, and three big issues at Hannover Messe
Investment will be needed to realize all the great innovations available at this year’s show.
Siemens, McAfee team up to address industrial cybersecurity
The partnership is intended to develop new manufacturing data security solutions.
Solve safety and maintenance challenges with a sheet of paper
Using a one-point lesson may help address a plant's safety and maintenance challenges.
Reduce costs by supporting Lean and continuous improvement
Here are some ways to update your organization’s energy strategies using free or low-cost energy-saving resources.
Students’ innovation the right prescription for success
Pill dispenser earns Walker Career Center a trip to Hannover Messe and solves a common problem by using automation
Festo gets Hannover Messe hopping
Festo brought a kangaroo to Hannover Messe. That’s one of those sentences they told us we’d never have to write when I went to journalism school.
Transatlantic Free Trade Agreement touted at Hannover Messe opening
The U.S. and E.U. must embrace trade deal, Merkel asserts at conference kickoff event
PMI Index increase part of the spring thaw
As weather improves, index rises for second straight month
The value of work planning in maintenance
How the value of a well-established and trained planning organization should exceed the cost for a business.
Attacking abnormalities head-on prevents future maintenance problems
Properly reporting abnormalities early on can improve an organization's safety and promote effective maintenace practices.
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles, March 17 – 23
Were you out last week? Miss something? Here are Plant Engineering's five most-clicked articles from last week, March 17 - 23, including articles about predictive maintenance, supply chain. harmonics in electrical systems, and manufacturing industry trends.
Moving from predictive maintenance to a condition-based program
Evaluate the equipment’s effectiveness by how it’s doing, not how old it is
The rewards of remote monitoring for air compressor maintenance
The Compressed Air and Gas Institute offered its views on the issue of remote monitoring as part of its effort to educate its members and others who use compressed air.
Robotic MIG guns: Make the consumables last
Select the right products and equipment for the right situation
Lift truck maintenance goals
Maximum uptime, minimal costs
Autonomous maintenance
The peril of eliminating a department
Using technology to gain ‘situational awareness’
Consortium works to improve operator understanding of alarm management
Real-time power management is a plant manager’s secret weapon
Technology that allows plant managers to have more control may improve system utilization, lower energy costs, and foster financial stability
Mastering effective daily management in supply chain and engineering
Organizational performance benefit through faster innovation, increased accountability, shared direction, and decisions reflecting clearly-defined priorities, AME LEADERSHIP
A beginner’s guide to Lean
Lean Sustainable Employment (LSE) is the key to unlocking loyalty and innovation in your workforce.
Global manufacturing enters ‘a decisive year’
2014 Hannover Messe preview touts merits of integrated manufacturing plants
Top 5 Plant Engineering articles, Feb. 2 – Feb. 9, 2014
Were you out last week? Miss something? Here are Plant Engineering's five most clicked articles from last week, Feb. 2 - Feb. 9, 2014, including articles about motor strategies, Schneider Electric, aluminum piping, and steam valves.
Plant operators play a big role in Big Data deployment
Emerson expert says operations needs to be in from the start of data management effort
Top 5 Plant Engineering stories, Jan. 26-Feb. 1, 2014
Were you out last week? Miss something? Here are Plant Engineering's five most clicked articles from last week, Jan. 26-Feb. 1, 2014, including articles about rolling resistance, Schneider Electric and Invensys, inverter-duty motors, variable frequency drives, and aluminum piping.
Weather or not, PMI Index hits the skids in January
PMI Index drops to 51.3%, lowest mark in seven months, mostly due to poor weather
Flow controller
The Air and Water PFE Flow Controller allows different air pressure settings to be set for time of day or week for plant operations
HVAC Meter Kit
The HVAC Meter Kit includes a rugged TRMS multimeter with NCV detection and 30:1 Ultra Wide-Range IR Thermometer with K Port
Handheld diagnostic meter
The SensoControl Diagnostic Serviceman Plus is a hand-held meter that features an automatic sensor recognition that scales the measurement range to eliminate setup routines
Walkie straddle stacker
The Crown ST 3000-25 Series walkie straddle stacker can handle up to 2,500 lbs. and is designed for environments with tight spaces, such as grocery and retail
Screw blower range
The ZS screw blower range's latest addition has an integrated variable speed drive and offers flow rates from 50-5000 CFM
ISM Index wraps up 2013 with bullish growth
PMI at 57% for December; new orders, employment on the rise
Self-priming centrifugal pumps: What you need to know
Most maintenance and operations personnel who work with centrifugal pumps have been warned repeatedly that starting a pump dry can scorch and permanently damage the seals or packing, and that pumping won’t begin if the suction liquid is below the pump’s suction lift. Then they encounter a “self-priming” pump and begin to question all those warnings.
Lincoln Electric is 2013 Top Plant winner
Cleveland manufacturer delivers quality today with a strong vision for the future.
Top Plant 2013: A spark of excellence
Many factors determine how well a manufacturing plant performs. Those that perform best are qualified to become a Top Plant.
Take a risk by challenging ‘conventional wisdom’
Conventional wisdom…is the safest route, the path of least resistance, but it isn’t a path to greater success. It is just an avoidance of possible failure.
Make maintenance a dream for 2014
Companies should consider improving their maintenance in 2014 to keep their operations running smoothly
Top 10 ways to streamline a ‘live factory’ project
When designing a new project, consider these ten tips to evaluate whether you and your A/E are employing best practices
To develop Lean culture, first build ‘wildfire engagement’
Building an understanding of Lean manufacturing and showing how it can benefit manufacturers in the short- and long-term is vital
Get more from your data analysis: 5 tips to understanding the numbers
Maintenance managers who use CMMS for maintenance functions should know these key best practices to improve their asset reliability
Set-up and design for a steam-pressure-reducing valve station
Proper system design, component selection, and installation of your steam PRV station may prolong the life of steam components
Robotic MIG gun series
The Tough Gun ThruArm G1 Series Robotic MIG Guns are designed for through-arm style robots and provide 500 amps of welding capability
Photoelectric sensor series
The OPT photoelectric sensor series feature high-resolution CMOS line array technology and Class 1 or Class 2 laser options
Elevator pulley line
The Dodge elevator pulley line meet CEMA standards and are available in drum or single disc design
A road map to reliability
How Premier Silica's Brady operation used evaluation to improve plant performance.
Maintenance must take lead in machine guarding checks
In a letter to the editor, Chris Mumford from ManagerPlus argues that establishing a thorough preventive maintenance checklist is vital to improve safety.
Finding the hidden value in asset hierarchy validation
Make the effort now to save time and money down the line.
NAND flash moves into the next dimension, as 3-D manufacturing technology overtakes the market
NAND flash memory suppliers are adopting 3-D production techniques and it is estimated that nearly two-thirds of all NAND memory chips will be produced using 3-D manufacturing processes by 2017.
Five reasons why aluminum piping makes sense for compressed air systems
Aluminum piping offers many advantages for compressed air installation including reduced costs and increased longevity
Condition-based maintenance offers a system check-up
Condition-based maintenance (CBM), when used with a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS), can help to implement a preventative maintenance plan.
‘Business is booming’ and so is the PMI Index
ISM report hits 12-month high, climbs for the 5th straight month
Increase motor reliability by monitoring and reducing operating temperature
Whether your facility has thousands of motors or just a few, regularly checking the operating temperature of critical motors will pay huge dividends—by preventing unexpected shutdowns and extending motor life. Here’s how to go about it.
Pneumatic air cylinders
The NITRA D-Series cushioned air cylinders have a 250-psi operating pressure and can be used with solid state or reed switches
4 levels of asset reliability at steelmaker ArcelorMittal
Effective planning leads to effective maintenance, which ArcelorMittal learned during the economic downturn
4 keys to a successful supply chain
A successful supply chain is vital in a world that is becoming faster and more demanding
5 things to consider when selecting a safety system
Performance requirements now drive the selection process
Safety and risk minimization in the operator control of plant machinery
Machine and operator safety must be considered at all stages of its service life and never become an afterthought
Eight ways electronic work instructions are transforming the shop floor
Electronic work instructions software are evolving and integrating 3D technology to make the process more streamlined and seamless for workers
The 28 metrics every plant needs to monitor
Make sure your actions are SMART: Specific, Measureable, Actionable, Realistic and Time-based
Examine all factors when choosing between a reciprocating piston or rotary compressor
Making the correct choice between a reciprocating piston and a rotary compressor can be greatly beneficial for operations
Strategic automation the solution to many manufacturing challenges
Companies in the U.S. need to keep their technological edge by expanding automation as a strategic, long-term initiative
Four strategies to deliver value with contract partnerships
Thinking long-term and valuing the team's culture can go a long way in overcoming any potential hurdles when someone is brought in on a contract basis
A change in speed control strategy ramps up production for steel company
TSA manufacturing upgraded the speed controls for their thread roller by adding a variable speed drive
The use, utility of steam
In the first of a three-part series, Spirax Sarco, a Plant Engineering content partner, takes a look at the uses and utility of steam as a manufacturing power source and as a source of clean energy.
Empowering shop-floor leaders to optimize energy performance
Three of the most common energy management challenges companies face are measuring metrics, managing disparate systems and data sources, and a lack of support around energy management
Material handling roadmap report needs industry review
Deadline for comments on report's first draft is Oct. 15
Top 10 recommendations for successful design and construction in large operating facilities
A fresh perspective on streamlining a complex process
Four ways fabric curtain walls can improve energy efficiency
Fabric curtain walls have many benefits for building including increased energy efficiency, controlling dust and debris, and HVAC cooling
The assembly line turns 100
The first moving assembly line debuted by Ford for the Model T production on October 7, 1913.
PMI leaps to another new high for 2013
ISM Index hits 56.2 percent in September as manufacturing optimism grows
CMMS keeps a watchful eye on outside contractors
All contracted work should be tracked by a CMMS database. Just as the maintenance manager assigns a job to a staff member and issues a work order, he should do the same for outside technicians.
Why full-power wind converters are not overtaking the market yet
High prices for rare earth materials, lagging offshore wind development, and high demand for doubly-fed converters by China continue to hamper the market.
Mechanical seal rings
The Metcar Grade M-444 is an antimony impregnated carbon-graphite primary seal ring designed for sealing refrigerants and low viscosity liquids
Centrifugal compressors
The ZH 355+ to 900+ oil-free centrifugal compressor range employs advanced aerodynamics and are designed based on Computational Flow Dynamic (CFD) analysis to reduce pressure drops
Mix spray nozzles
External atomizing mix spray nozzles atomize fluids in situations where a high volume of liquid is needed and can be used with a viscosity up to 800 cp
Stainless steel connectors
The expanded family of Corrosion Resistant Stainless Steel (CRSS) Connectors are designed for use in washdowns and high moisture environments
AME Conference Leans toward improvement
Joe Fisher, the AME Toronto 2013 Conference Chair, talks about Lean manufacturing and its benefits
Understanding of resonance essential for solving vibration problems
It's no secret that severe vibration can destroy bearings, ruin shafts and potentially disrupt production. What's less well known is that resonant machine components and supporting structures can magnify even small vibration problems enough to damage connected equipment or cause catastrophic machine failure.
Plant Engineering Workforce Development Study: Lack of skilled workers leading to unfilled jobs
Finding qualified workers to fill needed manufacturing jobs has continued to remain a problem for companies and it is limiting their ability to expand operations.
Intel, AeroScout partner on RFID technology in devices
Webcast Sept. 17 to discuss RFID technology in manufacturing environment
Start saving with bi-fuel diesel engines
Replace diesel fuel with natural gas
Improved melters save energy
Reduced emissions also targeted
Capture more turbine energy with CHP
Thermal applications are the key
When it comes to motors, how hot is hot?
Temperatures that are too high affect machine performance and lifespan.
Integrated quality software: 3 real-life examples
Underutilized data is a roadblock to quality
Disaster recovery plans, procedures
In the wake of the natural disasters, maintenance professionals and motor repairers need creative solutions to speed the removal of moisture and contamination from thousands of swamped motors.
Common misconceptions about how to dry wet motors
Two mistaken ideas about how to dry wet windings have persisted for years. One is that heating the windings with a welding machine is good way to dry out an electric motor. The other is that windings should not be dried at oven temperatures above 180 F.
Survey: Manufacturing job confidence, mobility on the rise
Randstad Index find four in 10 workers may look to switch jobs in next 12 months
Sharing data on quality performance more likely in manufacturing
ASQ study finds most companies link quality with top management
Consideration when deciding to repair NEMA Premium motors
Further investigation needed before making a decision on motor repair
Despite hot issues, plant managers keep their cool
Companies all over the world are thriving and growing amidst the challenging economy, but certainty about the future remains murky
Subsurface fatigue can lead to bearing failure
A combination of technologies can alert to the early signs of failure
India machine tool market seen as emerging force
Experienced manufacturers see a pathway to success in newly industrialized market
Siemens: New facility still learns from experience
WEB EXCLUSIVE: Siemens has used the experience of its workers all over the world to build and expand their operations
MBX Systems: Maintaining quality at a time of expansion
MBX Systems has been able to expand by continuing to demonstrate operational excellence
Turck: Better measurement helps clarify operational goals
A clearer focus thanks to KPI has allowed Turck to focus their efforts on ways to improve the company
Pratt and Whitney: Soaring into the future
Pratt and Whitney's jet engine manufacturing plant balances speed and flexibility
Inside the manufacturing revival
Plant managers talk about their challenges, and their success
The ISM Index’s big July surge
Manufacturing, housing, export data all pointing in the right direction
Lines blurring between CMMS and EAM
The software industry is riddled with acronyms: ERP, CRM, SaaS, you get the picture. But what is not always clear for maintenance professionals, is the difference between computerized maintenance management software (CMMS) and enterprise asset management (EAM) software.
Audit management software supports closed-loop quality
Many organizations have developed and implemented audit management systems because of higher public expectations and stricter regulations
To record or not to record: That is the question
Conventional wisdom tells us any activity that falls under the asset maintenance umbrella should be captured in CMMS.
Outsourcing maintenance: 10 questions to ask your provider
Companies looking to outsource technical skills should consider these guidelines when the need arises
CertainTeed joins Ford, GM in Missouri’s manufacturing surge
Company’s $100 million plant latest in line of new projects for Show-Me State
Automation service strategy: 5 things to consider
5 tips for developing and documenting a life cycle services strategy
Reap the benefits of CMMS with your ERP system
CMMS is essential when running enterprise resource planning (ERP) for a company's operations because it controls quality and operating costs
Valve Manufacturers Association marks 75th anniversary
Research and celebration to mark VMA anniversary events
AME Lean Summit conference registration open
Registration is open for AME's Lean Summit in Atlanta, which is focused on the theme of leadership for the August 2013 conference
Leak detection kit
The OPK-441 Leak Detection Kit uses an LED leak detection flashlight to find oil-based fluid systems, compressors, engines, gearboxes and fuel systems
Oil/water filtration units
SP Oil/Water Separator Filtration Units are designed for molecular filtration and other potential contaminants
Tie best of breed CMMS with your ERP and reap the business benefits
Most corporate departments think of maintenance when they need the thermostat adjusted in the conference room. But maintenance management and CMMS are an integral part of ERP, which runs 80% of Fortune 1000 companies
Graphic display panel meter and logger
The Dpi1701 panel meter and data logger series is designed for for temperature and process measurement and features alarm relays and isolated analog output
ISM data jumps back above growth threshold
PMI at 50.9% is 1.9 points higher than May, signaling improving conditions overall
Develop and execute a sound lubrication strategy
Ahmet Guven from Shell discusses lubrication strategies and methods for companies looking to improve efficiency and maintenance
The process of proper lubrication
The right work procedures drive consistency and ensure success
Understanding the differences between MOM and MES
Clearing up the confusion a process of wading through history.
ISO 55000: An insider’s perspective
With the upcoming release of the ISO 55000 series standards on asset management from the International Organization for Standardization, the world’s largest developer of international standards, there has been much discussion on what the standards are all about.
Maintaining hydraulic fluids
Maintaining hydraulic fluids is an important job that can reduce or eliminate many problems. This article describes how to keep fluid contamination to an acceptable minimum; external and internal contamination sources; portable instruments used to quickly and accurately measure particle contamination; maintenance measures and more.
