How effective is PM in reducing downtime?

  The answer to this question, as with many questions about Maintenance, is “it depends”. I’ll illustrate with an example: In a large multi-line pulp and paper mill, a 20″ knife-gate valve on the

Getting the most from your PM programme

Here are a few ideas on setting up a preventive maintenance (PM) programme that will support your reliability objectives without costing more than it needs to. The comments below apply to both condition monitoring

Maintenance budgets and cost reporting

One of the more important Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) in Maintenance is how much it costs. While many would argue that this is the most important measure of Maintenance, I would suggest that in

Equipment “criticality” ratings –…

Related articles: Designing for reliability Reducing the risk of unspared critical components It is not uncommon for “criticality” ratings to be assigned to equipment, a practice which has some merit but the overall value

Database Management Principles Listing

  Summary of Database Principles For the reasoning behind these principles, see “Database Principles“ . Principle 1 – All inputs must be designed to produce the required outputs in the required format. Principle 2 – Ensure that all

Backlogs – their vital importance to managin…

  Managing a work order backlog is not the most exciting of Maintenance routines, but without a complete and up-to-date backlog important work will get forgotten, work that Operating customers expect to be done

Asset identification and numbering

  Related articles: Naming standards in the Stores Spare Parts lists The “zero stock” catalogue and its power Database management principles Organization principles   This article covers the two main plant numbering systems that

Approving Maintenance expenditures

  A fundamental management principle is that any function that is a part of a business process should add value, and this includes the function of approving expenditures. Of course, all major capital expenditures