The following is an except from the article entitled "Choose Your PdM Partners Wisely Or Discover Another Reason Why PdM Programs Can Fail" by Alan Friedman, appeared on reliabilityweb.com
One reason many in-house programs fail is a lack of consistency on many levels. A successful Predictive Maintenance (PdM) program relies on long-term consistency on the technical level in terms of collecting repeatable data for trending. This means that assets must be tested the same way time after time, year after year, in terms of test speeds, loads, test positions, test types etc. Consistent testing ensures accurate trending of machine condition, the development of meaningful baselines and alarm criteria and, therefore, accurate fault diagnosis and repair recommendations. This is very different from the process of using the technology to troubleshoot an asset. Troubleshooting is a valid use of these technologies, but does not result in a change in maintenance philosophy, nor does it provide the large ROI’s such a change in philosophy should produce.
On a higher level, such technical consistency also depends on the reliability of management and personnel. Oftentimes, due to lack of financial justification, PdM programs are stopped and personnel are reassigned to different tasks. New maintenance managers may not understand the technology and may recommend a new approach to using – or not using – it which disrupts the consistency of a program. In-house “experts,” in seeking to keep their jobs secure, may not document or follow fixed procedures for monitoring equipment or share information with others, causing programs to fail when they leave for greener pastures.
There are many reasons why programs bloom and then decay. People who have different ideas about how Predictive Maintenance (PdM) should be done come and go, priorities change, technology changes, expertise changes and approaches change. The one sure thing is that all of these starts and stops and changes in direction ensure a program will never be successful. This is another reason why an external partner is a good option to keep the program running steadily regardless of what is happening within the maintenance department of your facility.
In general, it can be said that a good Predictive Maintenance program requires a consistent approach, with a clear set of objectives that can be measured to monitor the success or failure of the program. The program must continue to remain consistent through good times and bad, regardless of who in the facility (or outside the facility) is running the program, collecting data, analyzing it or writing reports. This sort of consistency is often difficult to maintain within a facility, and is an example of where a good partnership with a Predictive Maintenance service provider can be a huge asset. Especially if this partner has a long track record of managing successful PdM programs and has a well-defined approach to managing such programs. This is different from hiring a vibration expert to come on-site at times to troubleshoot machines or structures.
But why choose your Predictive Maintenance (PdM) partners wisely? Here's his conclusion:
Whether you are considering starting a new program, revamping a dead one, outsourcing or looking for someone to become a long term partner to step in when needed and step back when not needed, make sure you pick the correct partner. The company should have a good track record of managing successful programs, should use good equipment for the job, and should make necessary equipment available to you as part of a sale or service or as a lease as needed. Make sure your partner can train staff at all levels, from using the products to analyzing graphs, but, more importantly, is capable of managing your particular program and answering specific questions related to auditing your program. The importance of helping you calculate the economic impacts of these technology and maintenance practices to your bottom line can not be underestimated.
More than anything, consider that choosing the right partner may make the difference between a consistent and effective program that runs smoothly over the next ten or twenty years and an endless series of false starts and investments in misused equipment. One thing is for sure, successful programs, more often than not, involve good partners.
To read the full article click here: Choose Your PdM Partners Wisely
0 Comments:
Post a Comment