Maintenance Technology October 2015 - (Page 10)

FOR ON THE FLOOR An outlet for the views of today's maintenance & reliability professionals Control Procedures With Standard Work Rick Carter Executive Editor S tandardized work is a lean-manufacturing strategy designed to establish agreed-upon procedures that govern key aspects of production. Also known as standard operating procedures (SOP), use of a standard work approach improves maintenance efforts in two ways by: ■ ensuring that operators always follow the same procedures to run equipment, thereby reducing the chance for error and damage ■ spelling out and illustrating exactly how to complete important equipment-care tasks for operators and maintenance teams. Once created, approved, and followed regularly, standard work procedures inevitably streamline output. Q What is your experience with standard work? "I have used standard work in multiple facilities. Currently, we use it in many areas. In production, it is used to define how the equipment is operated during different tasks and/or activities. In maintenance, PM and PdM tasks are the most prevalent use. We also use it to guide processes and practices. For example, we have documented processes that define what is and how to work with emergency and corrective work, preventive work, predictive work, and how to return certain types of equipment back to production service." ... Sr. Maintenance Supervisor, Midwest "My experience has been limited, but we currently use standard work on some very repetitive processes, such as die changeovers, heating-element change-outs, and others." ... Sr. Facilities Engineer, South "We only use it in a few applications for maintenance procedures." ... Maintenance Mechanic, South A well-documented standard work program will include readily accessible notebooks that pair job descriptions with photos in an easy-to-read format, such as this example from Mississippi Lime. (For more information on this company's standard work program, see page 18.) "I have experience capturing a commissioningmechanic's set-up of new packaging machinery on video, which we would then use as the benchmark, even though not all variables could be included. A major problem I encountered [at some companies] has been the independence that some mechanics feel they must display. Often, each shift will have a mechanic with their own method they are proud of, causing set-up and product changeovers to vary and slowing production line start-up. I have also found that many machine installers do not provide an SOP." ... Consultant, Canada Among this month's Maintenance Technology reader panelist respondents, experience with standard work varies. While all are familiar with the strategy, several said they have never used it. Here are selected comments from those who have: 10 | MAINTENANCE TECHNOLOGY "I used standardized work when I was a project engineer in the food industry. In this case, it was mainly directed by an industry association, OSHA, and various health groups." ... Former Chief Maintenance Engineer (now Trainer), West OCTOBER 2015

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Maintenance Technology October 2015

My Take
Uptime
For on the Floor
Industry News
Crushing Limestone with Reliability
Choose Reliability or Cost Control
Get To The Root of the Cause
Select the Right Safety Logic System
Simple Purchasing Practices Incite Lubrication Failure
CMMS Upgrade Tips
Pump-Bearing Alignment
Lockout/Tagout Advice
Advancing Ergonomics
Products
Showcase
Ad Index

Maintenance Technology October 2015