Useful Reliability and Maintenance Resources

from today's industrial maintenance experts

predictive maintenance in manufacturing two people working
Preventive Maintenance

What is the Value of Failure Prediction – Early Warnings?

We like to be warned about things well ahead of time: when to buy or sell a stock, when we can expect 3 to 6 inches of snow, etc. The same could be said about the equipment and systems that drive your processes every day. These critical and expensive assets are expected to produce the valuable products your company is known for with little or no interruption. We might have a reasonably clear picture of how things look today, but what about 30 days from now? Wouldn’t it be beneficial to have a picture of what our systems might look like that far into the future… and have confidence in that view?

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Engineering

Heat Transfer Basics 

Heat is energy and its nature is to flow from a state of high excitement to one of low excitement. Heat is transferred from a hot place to a cold place by convection, conduction or radiation. This article explains the three modes of heat transfer and provides simple examples of each. Methods to reduce and increase heat transfer are also presented.

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Preventive Maintenance

Preventive vs. Reactive Maintenance:  Don’t Neglect Makeup Water and Condensate Return Treatment – Part 2

Many impurities may transport to boilers via contaminated condensate return. Boiler tube and steam system failures are usually much more costly than preventive installation of treatment equipment and chemistry programs. This article touched upon only some of the important condensate return issues, but will hopefully galvanize readers to focus on these critical topics. 

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Materials and Spare Parts Management

Artificial Intelligence: The Future of Searching for Spare Parts in the Maintenance of Large Industrial Enterprises

In large industrial enterprises, maintenance plays a critical role in guaranteeing continuous, efficient operations. A key aspect of this area is the search for spare parts. Not only are the processes for identifying spare parts accelerated by implementing AI technologies such as machine learning and image recognition, they are also made much more precise. This development greatly increases the efficiency of the search for spare parts while reducing inventory costs at the same time. Find out exactly how it works in this article.

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performing bridge maintenance using scaffolding
News

The Fern Hollow Bridge Collapse: A Wake-Up Call for Bridge Maintenance Programs

The National Transportation Safety Board announced last month that the 2022 collapse of the Fern Hollow Bridge in Pittsburgh was caused by critical lapses in bridge maintenance and oversight by multiple agencies. This week’s newsletter will cover the NTSB’s description of the failure, differentiate between failures and breakdowns, and provide quick tips on bridge maintenance. 

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Maintenance Management

Proactive Over Reactive: IoT’s Role in Redefining Industrial Maintenance

The industrial maintenance sector is experiencing a significant shift with the integration of the Internet of Things (IoT) and the advent of Industry 4.0. These innovations are fundamentally altering the way maintenance teams function, introducing a new era of efficiency, predictive maintenance, and real-time data utilisation. IoT technology is central to this transformation, enabling teams to access and analyse data in real time. This advancement shifts maintenance from a reactive to a proactive and predictive model, significantly reducing downtime and extending equipment life.

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Condition Monitoring

What is a Shaft Centerline Diagram?

A shaft centerline diagram is a plot used in the vibration analysis of journal bearings. It is also called a shaft average centerline diagram. The purpose of this graph is to display the average position of the rotor in the bearing. In short, for different bearing types, there is an expected or “normal” position of the shaft in the bearing. If this position changes, it can indicate a problem.

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News

Engineering Degrees Around the World

Are you interested in becoming an engineering student? Are you an engineering professional looking to gain knowledge in a graduate or certificate program? Have you ever wondered what it would be like to study engineering in another country? This newsletter presents a list of universities and colleges in the US and worldwide that offer engineering degrees and programs in any type of engineering you are looking for – including everything from mechanical engineering, civil engineering, chemical engineering, to mining.

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painter industrial painting
Facility Maintenance

Oil vs. Latex Paint: Which is Best for Your Commercial or Industrial Painting Needs?

Contrary to what most people think, paint plays a significant part in constructing and maintaining structures. Commercial and industrial painting is a complex process that involves protecting the substrate from environmental factors, enhancing its aesthetic appeal, and ensuring longevity. If you’re working on commercial or industrial projects, choosing the right paint is absolutely crucial for achieving the results you want. Two of the most popular paint options are oil and latex, each with its unique properties.

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