Efficient Plant June 2021 - 19

feature | electrical systems
Categorize Your Assets
Non-Critical
Auxiliary
ü Test data only
ü Run to failure
ü Test interpretations
& recommendations
ü Field inspection
ü Basic competency
training
ü Asset health
database
ü Reactive
maintenance
System Critical
ü Infrared scanning
at same time of oil
testing
ü Single-gas, real-time
monitoring
ü Predictive
maintenance
ü Electrical testing
ü Advanced
maintenance training
Mission Critical
ü Multi-gas, real-time
monitoring
ü Advanced bushing
and PD monitoring
ü Engineer evaluation
and review
ü Preventive
maintenance
ü Life-cycle advanced
training
Categorizing assets by criticality/risk and history also makes it possible to prioritize maintenance needs for each asset.
ed thoroughly across the organization.
In an organizational structure
that is scaff olded around effi cient
processes, it's imperative to make
sure that everyone knows their role.
Who owns the asset and what is
the current state at the beginning
of this analysis? Who is committed
to support the eff ort? How are they
committed to it? Are you going
to have monthly meetings? Th ere
must be a team with representatives
from every part of the organization
to ensure expectations are stated,
communicated, and met.
minds might be the most challenging barrier
to overcome.
FEAR OF JOB LOSS
When new processes challenge TTWWHADI,
the fi rst assumption for many at the plant level
is that technology will replace people. Far from
it. Th e goal is maintaining production and
profi tability, not removing expertise. Th e most
important aspect of any reliability program is
wisdom and that must be communicated from
the beginning.
LOSS OF CONTROL
Plant managers own their P&L, and they can
be reluctant to allow corporate decisionmaking
to impinge on that metric. Th is reluctance
is almost always assuaged when plant
managers see how a transformer-reliability
program is in their best interests.
A reliable electric-power system means
that a plant can continue to operate at peak
effi ciency and maintain its profi tability. Again,
the importance here is in communicating the
value of long-term system reliability over quarJUNE
2021
terly fi gures. Th is is a delicate balancing act
that requires collaboration at all levels rather
than working in silos.
FLAVOR OF THE MONTH
When an organization decides to make significant
process changes, such as implementing a
transformer-reliability program, it's important
to emphasize across the entire organization
that those changes represent more than just a
novel way of doing things. Th ey represent an
organization-wide culture change. Buy-in is
essential, from the boots on the ground at the
plant level to those in the C-suite. If reliability
is seen as another " fl avor-of-the-month " from
corporate, rather than as real culture change,
there will always be friction and resistance.
Get everyone involved from the beginning
and make the expectations clear to all.
UNCLEAR EXPECTATIONS
If we know that silos stifl e the implementation
of electric-power reliability programs, then
it stands to reason that they will also create
confusion if expectations are not communicatUNREALISTIC
TIME
FRAMES
If a problem has developed in an
electrical system over a timeline
that is measured in decades, it is
unrealistic to expect that the problem
can be resolved in a matter of months. Th e
focus should be on criticality and deciding
which issues are most important to resolve.
You can't solve these problems overnight.
Electric-power-system reliability is achieved
through the execution of a long-term strategy
that is based on standards. Th ese long-term
strategies require multi-year budgets and an
appreciation of lifecycle management. From
purchasing through monitoring, inspection,
maintenance, and repair, it's important to note
that a multi-million-dollar electric-powersystem
reliability program is more cost
eff ective than a plan that involves massive
capital expenditure every few years. EP
Chip Angus is an Electrical Power Reliability
Manager at SDMyers LLC, Tallmadge, OH
(sdmyers.com). Angus helps companies develop
long-term transformer-reliability solutions.
Before specializing in electric-power reliability,
he was president of a structural and plate
fabrication fi rm. He now works primarily with
manufacturing and steel customers.
EFFICIENTPLANTMAG.COM | 19

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Efficient Plant June 2021

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