Global Plant Engineering - October 2010 - (Page 30)

Plant Maintenance qualitative information (for example, the shape of a waveform from a variable speed drive). • Are listed on the equipment nameplate or in the manufacturer’s specifications For example, for a motor-driven conveyor belt, good operational metrics could be: • Throughput (average, maximum, and minimum rates) • Conveyor load (that is, how much weight is being transported by the conveyor) • Motor peak power demand • Motor and drive train vibration data vice, capturing measurements as you go, and at the input and the output of each step or key component. • Keep track of key metrics over time. • Take measurements when the system is running at peak capacity. Measurements taken when the system is not being taxed are of much less value. • Look for changes (which can indicate that something may have happened) or measurements that exceed limits. Y Effective metrics: What to measure and how to measure it 5. Create a data “dashboard” 4. Take measurements Statistical information such as that which Measure and record the metrics of the key you gathered in step 4 can be a powerful tool components. Capturing this data doesn’t have for analysis and prediction, but interpreting to be a complicated prorows and columns of raw Your experience and training data can be overwhelmcess. Although you may eventually want to record ing. An effective way to are the best guide for what and analyze component deal with this kind of data and how to measure. metrics in a spreadsheet overload is to decide in or database, you can get started with pencil advance the range of values for each metric and paper. that is OK, suspicious, serious, and extreme. Your experience and training are the best With data ranges in place, you can create guide for both what and how to measure, (and a simple, color-coded status for each comfor more ideas you can review the sidebar) ponent in the system that you can view in a but here are some simple “rules of thumb” for notebook, on a whiteboard, or in a spreadmaking effective measurements: sheet. The simplified, high-level view of the • Start measuring at the power source. system that results, free of distracting detail, • Follow the current flow. can make data analysis and decision making • Work towards the furthest point or defor complex systems much simpler. ou can make many key measurements with tools as basic as a digital multimeter. Other tools – as simple as specialized test leads or as sophisticated tools as thermal imaging devices and vibration testers – can make testing faster, easier, and more cost-efficient, and in some cases, can reveal information that you can’t get any other way. This table outlines some key metrics to track and the range of tools that can be used to measure them. 6. Prioritize components for attention, maintenance, and budget Now that you have a clear and uncluttered view of the status of the key components in the system, you can prioritize components for attention as needed. 7. Make the decision For each component on your prioritized list, make a decision about what to do next: Does it require attention (for example, resizing the motor on the conveyor to better handle the load demand)? Does it need replacement? Should you just keep an eye on it? Anothjer option is to simply let it run to failure, planning ahead by allocating budget

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Global Plant Engineering - October 2010

Global Plant Engineering - October 2010
Contents
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Global Views
Hannover Messe Report
Asia Report
Americas Report
Winning the Race Against Equipment Failure
Take 8 Steps to Debug Process Control System
Optimize the Enterprise: Measurement, Empowerment, and Control are the Essential Ingredients
Air Apparent: Compressed Air Audits Let You Find the Leaks in Your System
The Promise of the Smart Grid: A Flexible, Dynamic Energy Management System
Europe Report

Global Plant Engineering - October 2010