Technical Papers

Interpreting an oil analysis report can be a daunting process when one...

Interpreting an oil analysis report can be a daunting process when one is faced with tens, perhaps hundreds, of numbers on the page. Yet by breaking this task up into manageable sections, the task can quite effectively be simplified. This paper breaks the diagnosis process up into twelve steps, covering...

Many companies invest in oil analysis without considering what their ultimate goals...

Many companies invest in oil analysis without considering what their ultimate goals or objectives really are. This fire, aim, ready approach to oil analysis can result in a serious erosion of the value oil analysis can provide in support of a reliability-driven maintenance process. In this session learn how to...

Time and again, oil analysis has proved to be a useful tool...

Time and again, oil analysis has proved to be a useful tool in preventing and identifying failures that if left, can lead to expensive replacement of parts, additional maintenance costs and loss of revenue. Current oil analysis practices at most remote wind turbine sights has proven to be useful, but...

How do we define a best practice or excellence in maintenance and...

How do we define a best practice or excellence in maintenance and reliability? What are the elements of a best practice? What and how are we going to implement best practices in our facilities? What obstacles including cultural issues do we need to overcome to implement them successfully? What metrics...

There are various methods for setting target cleanliness levels for hydraulic systems....

There are various methods for setting target cleanliness levels for hydraulic systems. These methods require various inputs and it is difficult to reach consensus on which method to apply. While this is the right approach for critical machines, the method presented during this session is a simplified approach that a...

Now you can avoid the costly trial-and-error approach to predictive maintenance. This...

Now you can avoid the costly trial-and-error approach to predictive maintenance. This paper outlines a proven path to success in PdM. Whether you want to improve your PdM program or start one from scratch, you'll find the facts you can put into practice immediately, such as: Basic Concept of Predictive...

Conditioned-based maintenance (CBM) provides you with the tools necessary to squeeze every...

Conditioned-based maintenance (CBM) provides you with the tools necessary to squeeze every possible hour out of your machinery. It saves you money by matching service intervals to the working environment and real-time machine health. CBM is unique because it involves maintenance that is predictive as well as preventative. Fluid analysis...

In the United States, we are losing skilled maintenance crafts at an...

In the United States, we are losing skilled maintenance crafts at an alarming rate. In order for a plant to obtain reliability goals, the maintenance organization must be capable of maintaining critical plant equipment at a high level. It is therefore necessary to implement a comprehensive and effective maintenance training...

You want to grow your reliability program, which means more resources ......

You want to grow your reliability program, which means more resources ... you need to "sell" your program to your manager. The last thing that he wants is to be "sold" on the RCM program (Resource Consuming Monster, as it is sometimes known). However, if you understand what the RULES...

Part of developing a plan for improvement is gaining an understanding of...

Part of developing a plan for improvement is gaining an understanding of where you are in your maintenance process. Most plants don't realize how far behind they are in maintenance effectiveness. This paper reviews a chart of plant and maintenance characteristics and habits. You'll develop a clear understanding on how...

Contamination of hydraulic and lube systems caused by water can lead to...

Contamination of hydraulic and lube systems caused by water can lead to major problems including corrosion, microbial growth, metal fatigue and accelerated oil aging. To diminish these problems two target water levels are recommended: a minimum level avoids free water, and a more stringent yet realistic level minimizes problems due...

Many companies have implemented reliability initiatives geared toward optimizing the maintenance functions...

Many companies have implemented reliability initiatives geared toward optimizing the maintenance functions at their plants. Some are successful; however, most will admit the expected benefits were not achieved. While there are many approaches to successfully implementing a reliability program, in this session, you will learn a proven model for improving...

A comprehensive Root Cause Analysis program is one piece of an overall...

A comprehensive Root Cause Analysis program is one piece of an overall reliability effort, and the investigation of problems should be part of everyday work processes. This paper will help you develop investigation processes for both major and minor issues within a company. Working the day-to-day problems effectively, and capturing...

Gearbox applications are challenging when attempting to achieve and maintain an aggressive...

Gearbox applications are challenging when attempting to achieve and maintain an aggressive level of lubricant cleanliness. A balance must be maintained between what is financially feasible and what is absolutely best for the machine. This paper discusses these challenges and looks at three case studies where tight lubricant cleanliness levels...

The iron, coal, precious metal, and mineral mining industries subject lubrication and...

The iron, coal, precious metal, and mineral mining industries subject lubrication and hydraulic systems and components to extreme levels of contamination that are rarely seen in other manufacturing environments. Yet, in one case study, an iron ore processing facility was able to reduce the material and labor expenses associated with...

In the course of fluid monitoring, it is necessary to know when...

In the course of fluid monitoring, it is necessary to know when fluid contamination can be repaired, or when a system needs to be flushed. Careful evaluation helps determine if the fluid is salvageable, and if not, it is important to know how much fluid will be needed to flush...

This paper includes a case study that involves a complete turnaround of...

This paper includes a case study that involves a complete turnaround of a mechanical maintenance planning department. The resulting organization consisted of crews working down their entire backlogs, freeing up the work force for other tasks including replacing contract labor and assisting other stations. Planning obviously involves more than computer...

Increasingly, managers and engineers, who are responsible for manufacturing and other industrial...

Increasingly, managers and engineers, who are responsible for manufacturing and other industrial pursuits, are incorporating a reliability focus into their strategic and tactical plans and initiatives. This trend is affecting numerous functional areas, including machine/system design and procurement, plant operations and plant maintenance. With its origins in the aviation industry,...

The benefits of maintaining clean hydraulic control systems have been well established,...

The benefits of maintaining clean hydraulic control systems have been well established, proven and documented. Yet so many people ignore these proven facts. The end result can be detrimental with shut down of major petrochemical plants or oil and gas platforms. This paper provides real case examples of how critical...

Microscopic particles are the most harmful form of lubricant contamination. They initiate...

Microscopic particles are the most harmful form of lubricant contamination. They initiate irreversible microscopic damage that causes macroscopic damage, which disables and destroys bearings, gears, valves and other components. Lubricants can be filtered to remove microscopic particles; however, particles can damage equipment before being removed by filtration. The most proficient...

There are numerous choices when it comes to selecting an automotive oil...

There are numerous choices when it comes to selecting an automotive oil filter. To gain a true understanding of filters on the market, they must be compared on a level playing field. To level the playing field, two main areas are reviewed: ISO 4548-12 and overall construction. Once the oil...

Oil analysis is well established as a routine tool to optimize maintenance...

Oil analysis is well established as a routine tool to optimize maintenance activities, improve reliability and equipment life, and prevent component failures. However, when equipment is grease-lubricated, the important lubricant analysis piece is usually left out of the mix. New developments are improving sampling techniques and streamlining grease analysis tests...