"If you always do what you always did, you will always get what you always got" This large southeastern mill complex, one of the largest in the US, had been in existence for nearly thirty years.Its original workforce was hired from the crews that built the original mill, constructors, in other words.
If you teach that bear… Are you in the prevention of unnecessary maintenance business? Is your enterprise comprised of dedicated individuals advocating the use of preventive maintenance as an operating strategy? Do you prevent maintenance? Is the prevention of maintenance your strategy? And is that your mill’s operating strategy? And is that strategy to prevent unscheduled maintenance and minimize scheduled maintenance?
This is My Maintenance System... Isn’t It? Many paper companies have come to the recent realization that there are savings to be achieved from the cost of maintaining their equipment and facilities. More important, CEO’s have become aware that these savings go directly to the bottom line. On Wall Street, bottom line savings relate directly to the share price through the P/E ratio. Market capitalization is affected.
"Unsung heros of operations" Shift mechanics, because of their function, must possess certain skills and behavior that are not necessarily required of others within the maintenance department.Observing the "routine" of a shift mechanic, either mechanical or E&I (automation), produces some interesting revelations.
Lesson in Communications The young engineer had just been assigned the task of performing liaison, with the corporate engineering group, representing the mill, for a project to replace the bigger machine's winder.
"Things they don’t teach engineers" The tour boss was practically running through the Beater Room as he made his way to the Maintenance Shops. He was looking for some help, and he needed it now.
by Mike Pemberton (ITT PumpSmart Control Solutions)
In industrial plants, centrifugal pumps are rarely considered as an integral component of the process control architecture. Other than graphical screens to change the on/off status of the pump, there is little--if any--real-time information on pump or motor performance. Historically, the fundamental building blocks of process automation have been process sensors and control valves, with little consideration given to the role of pumps. Still, one of the easiest and often overlooked ways to make a dramatic impact on process performance is through pump efficiency.
Bigger Is Not Always Better Overall plant operation has always been tied to the proper selection, sizing, installation and maintenance of pumping systems. Standard industrial practice has been to oversize the pump to ensure adequate supply during peak demand periods. That practice was acceptable in the past when manufacturers had standing orders for their products. Today, however, it’s a different story. Globalization of markets has resulted in most industry sectors having more supply than demand. Now that the table has turned, oversized pumps should be viewed differently.
