MINUTES
OF KNOWLEDGE
FEATUREARTICLE
ASSET STRATEGY
Asset Strategies
by Tom Moriarty , Alidade MER , Inc . executed , data is gathered . Analyzing that data can tell us whether the strategy is improving reliability , improving availability , lowering costs , etc ., or , whether the strategy can be further refined . Additionally , as a FMECA or RCM identifies the best maintenance tasks , a budget plan for equipment , tools , calibrations , software upgrades , training and spares can be developed based on the documented needs of the assets .
Many organizations suffer higher costs and lower productivity than is possible . They react to equipment health problems . They don ’ t have good plans on how to best care for equipment . Without a good plan , or if unable to execute the plan ( a topic for another article ) it is nearly impossible to get ahead of the maintenance cycle of doom , or to keep from falling back into it . Many organizations lack good asset strategies because they haven ’ t been educated on fundamentals and / or senior managers don ’ t support the effort to initiate or sustain an asset strategy program .
“ When we get the asset strategy right , we have a baseline that can be used to engage continuous improvement .”
“ Many organizations lack good asset strategies because they haven ’ t been educated on fundamentals and / or senior managers don ’ t support the effort to initiate or sustain an asset strategy program .”
To create an asset strategy there has to be a basic understanding of maintenance and reliability principles . Maintenance tasks come in different flavors : run-to-failure , interval-based , condition monitoring and failure-finding . Each has parameters that help in the selection of the proper maintenance task type to apply . Reliability is the probability that an asset will perform its intended functions , for a specified period of time under specified conditions .
By identifying all of the primary and secondary functions of an asset , we can analyze functional failures and the modes by which the failures occur . The most common methods are Failure Modes , Effects and Criticality Analysis ( FMECA ) and Reliability Centered Maintenance ( RCM ). We can then select the appropriate maintenance tasks and the periodicity for performing them . When we get it right , we can avoid defects , replace parts that have predictable wear-out patterns or use condition monitoring . Ultrasonic Emissions , vibration analysis , oil analysis , infrared imaging , motor circuit analysis and other condition monitoring techniques can be used to identify defects early enough to plan and schedule corrective actions . Planned and scheduled corrective actions reduce unplanned down time .
When we get the asset strategy right , we have a baseline that can be used to engage in continuous improvement . As the strategy is
An asset strategy should be a living program . Using FMECA or RCM software to develop and archive the asset strategies creates a historical record . It documents what functions were considered , what failure modes were evaluated and the criticality criteria that was used . Some FMECA and RCM software programs provide cost analysis to ensure all selected tasks and periodicities are value-added . Having the documentation makes it easier to review and update failure modes , task selections , periodicities , etc .
One of the things I like most about working with Mobius Institute are the Asset Reliability Practitioner ( ARP ) courses that include the Asset Reliability Transformation Model ( ART ). The courses and ART model show that asset strategies are just one of many integrated components of a comprehensive asset reliability program . I liked it so much that I got certified in all three ARP courses . As a training partner , I get to work with these concepts often . Go forth and do great things !
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