What the Emperor’s New Clothes Says to Plant Reliability and Maintenance Professionals
Torbjörn Idhammar, IDCON INC
Let us start this column with a short version of an old story.
Once upon a time, an emperor was offered some fantastic clothes by traveling tailors. They told the emperor that their clothes were the most exclusive in the world — so exclusive that only wise people saw the clothes. The emperor accepted the tailors’ offer; they took measurements and cut the expensive fabrics. When the emperor tried the clothes on, neither he nor any of his advisors and servants could see the clothes, but no one said anything for obvious reasons.
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Circular logic is how many large, otherwise sophisticated manufacturing plants manage financial accountability over their industrial contractors. They create a PO, send it to the contractor, the contract performs the work, keeps track of expenses, and then submits an invoice. The planning and scheduling and execution of the works are excellent, but the financial control needs upgrading.
Circular logic is how many large, otherwise sophisticated manufacturing plants manage financial accountability over their industrial contractors. They create a PO, send it to the contractor, the contract performs the work, keeps track of expenses, and then submits an invoice. The planning and scheduling and execution of the works are excellent, but the financial control needs upgrading.

Collaborative Production Management in the Process Industries
This call to action is being driven by reductions in resources, increased desire to maximize capacity utilization, the need to optimize operational performance, and the need to ensure that we are in compliance with company goals, targets and corporate responsibilities. We are being asked to do more with less. Data management is an essential element of the solution to this challenge.
This call to action is being driven by reductions in resources, increased desire to maximize capacity utilization, the need to optimize operational performance, and the need to ensure that we are in compliance with company goals, targets and corporate responsibilities. We are being asked to do more with less. Data management is an essential element of the solution to this challenge.

An Introduction to the Maintenance Scorecard
The Maintenance Scorecard is the first book to seriously tackle the issue of aligning asset management with other areas of corporate activity. This is a particularly relevant topic given the growing importance of the area as a source of strategic advantages and as a centre for risk management.
The Maintenance Scorecard is the first book to seriously tackle the issue of aligning asset management with other areas of corporate activity. This is a particularly relevant topic given the growing importance of the area as a source of strategic advantages and as a centre for risk management.

Achieving "Near Zero" Refrigerant Emissions in HVAC Systems
Chillers and their refrigerants require ongoing preventative maintenance. Preventing refrigerant from leaving, preventing air from entering, and preserving refrigerant quality are all a part of chiller maintenance. By maintaining your chillers and by preventing chiller leaks you will also keep your operating costs down.
Chillers and their refrigerants require ongoing preventative maintenance. Preventing refrigerant from leaving, preventing air from entering, and preserving refrigerant quality are all a part of chiller maintenance. By maintaining your chillers and by preventing chiller leaks you will also keep your operating costs down.

Cooling the Industrial Workplace
Excessive heat in a manufacturing or warehouse environment has negative effects on workers, production levels and even the quality of produced or stored goods. This is a growing concern because today's North American industries are being pressed hard to match offshore production options. Fortunately there are plant cooling solutions that can solve this problem.
Excessive heat in a manufacturing or warehouse environment has negative effects on workers, production levels and even the quality of produced or stored goods. This is a growing concern because today's North American industries are being pressed hard to match offshore production options. Fortunately there are plant cooling solutions that can solve this problem.
Time to Upgrade Your Plant's Heating System?
Choosing an industrial heating system upgrade for any facility is a big undertaking—not only because it’s a major expense, but because it can have a long-tail effect on the facility’s energy efficiency as well as employee comfort. When looking for the best industrial heating system, several factors should be considered.
Choosing an industrial heating system upgrade for any facility is a big undertaking—not only because it’s a major expense, but because it can have a long-tail effect on the facility’s energy efficiency as well as employee comfort. When looking for the best industrial heating system, several factors should be considered.

Your Maintenance Debt Dictates Your Maintenance Cost
Most maintenance managers feel the pressure of lowering maintenance costs and at the same time improving reliability. As you know, annual maintenance costs have a strong correlation to how well basic work processes such as planning, scheduling, and preventive maintenance are executed in our mills, mines and factories. But, another factor that heavily influences maintenance costs is your existing “maintenance debt.”
Most maintenance managers feel the pressure of lowering maintenance costs and at the same time improving reliability. As you know, annual maintenance costs have a strong correlation to how well basic work processes such as planning, scheduling, and preventive maintenance are executed in our mills, mines and factories. But, another factor that heavily influences maintenance costs is your existing “maintenance debt.”