Maintenance Technology August 2017 - 9

ON THE FLOOR

and chemical manufacturers' standard recommendations. We also have
procedures in place for inspection of
the building structure and grounds
and HVAC.

If you're interested in becoming
an MT Reader Panelist, email
jalexander@maintenancetechnology.com.

Maximize Uptime
and Enhance
Plant Safety



Power Sector, Midwest. . .

All of our infrastructure assets are
part of an asset hierarchy and have
a criticality associated with them.
Appropriate asset-care plans, based
on our asset-control strategy, include
PM and CM (condition monitoring)/
PdM activities.
These activities are optimized to
bring value to our business and help
ensure the reliability of our infrastructure. Many different technologies are used in conducting the PM
and CM/PdM activities and are
performed by both plant personnel
and contract services.

Discrete Mfg, Midwest. . .

Each plant at our site has a facility
engineer. We have a high-voltage
team and operate our own powerhouse that supplies steam to all
plants. In-house personnel inspect
this power-related infrastructure.
They also inspect ladders, raised
platforms, and safety equipment.
The exception to that is any lifting
equipment, which is inspected by a

certified [outside] company.
Any of our infrastructure that's not
related to production is inspected by
outside companies (although I can't
speak to the frequency).

Industry Consultant, Northeast. . .

From what I've seen, external corrosion in hidden areas, i.e., buried by
debris at ground level, or in difficultto-see/reach elevated areas like pipe
bridges, has been the greatest cause of
infrastructure-related failures. While
these failures aren't common, I don't
know of anyone [any company] that
has a detailed external-corrosion
inspection program.
It seems as though major maintenance is triggered by minor failures
such as a pipe support that breaks and
an obvious sagging of a critical line.
Although we see occasional preventive maintenance activities aimed at
combating external corrosion, it's rare
for cleaning and repainting programs
to be well engineered. MT

Tip of the Month | AUGUST 2017

Use a small room with carefully
controlled humidity and temperature for
storing wear items, i.e., belts, packing,
gaskets, and other types of rubber or
composition components, that tend to
dry out or deteriorate over time. Such
items will be in better condition and last
longer when put into service than those
that are shelf-stored in non-controlled
environments.

Tipster: George Corfield, P.E., P. Eng.
Consultant, Mesa, AZ

AUGUST 2017

DAMAGED BELLOWS
OR WAY COVERS?

What about you?
Tips and tricks that you use
in your work could be valueadded news to other reliability
and maintenance pros. Why
not share them? Email your
favorites to MTTipster@
maintenancetechnology.com.
Who knows? You might see
your submission(s) in this
space. (Anyone can play. You
don't need to be an MT Reader
Panelist.)

OPEN MACHINE PIT
CREATING A HAZARD?

BALL SCREW WORN-OUT
AND LOSING PRECISION?

We Can Help!
View Solutions @
Dynatect.com/MRO
* Replacement Bellows
* Telescopic Cover Repair
* Walk-on Roll-Up Pit Cover
* Ball Screw Repair/Rebuild

Global Leader in Protection for
Equipment and People
800-298-2066
sales@dynatect.com
MAINTENANCETECHNOLOGY.COM | 9

http://www.Dynatect.com/MRO http://www.MAINTENANCETECHNOLOGY.COM

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Maintenance Technology August 2017