Huntstock/Thinkstock
Ecmweb 8547 Getting It Back Online
Ecmweb 8547 Getting It Back Online
Ecmweb 8547 Getting It Back Online
Ecmweb 8547 Getting It Back Online
Ecmweb 8547 Getting It Back Online

Getting It Back Online Isn’t Always Enough

Nov. 8, 2016
Improving reliability should always be one of your repair work goals.

It may seem like getting downed equipment back online constitutes a completed repair because product is flowing again. But for how long is it flowing? Ask that question, and what appeared to be a completed repair often isn’t. Improving reliability should always be one of your repair work goals. Do you look for ways to mitigate or eliminate the downtime cause so this failure doesn’t happen as frequently if at all?

In many maintenance organizations, the performance metrics focus on single-event turnaround time rather than total production time saved. Three cheers if that motor can be replaced in under 30 minutes! But are you shaving a few minutes from an individual downtime event only to accumulate much more downtime overall?

The first step in repairing the reliability problem is to identify the failure cause. Send that motor out for an autopsy. Don’t use motor replacement cost as the justification, use total cost. At one plant, each hour of downtime cost $680,000 in revenue. They kept paying that rather than fix the failure cause of a “not worth the autopsy cost” 10 HP motor.

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of EC&M, create an account today!

Sponsored Recommendations

Electrical Conduit Comparison Chart

CHAMPION FIBERGLASS electrical conduit is a lightweight, durable option that provides lasting savings when compared to other materials. Compare electrical conduit types including...

Fiberglass Electrical Conduit Chemical Resistance Chart

This information is provided solely as a guide since it is impossible to anticipate all individual site conditions. For specific applications which are not covered in this guide...

Considerations for Direct Burial Conduit

Installation type plays a key role in the type of conduit selected for electrical systems in industrial construction projects. Above ground, below ground, direct buried, encased...

How to Calculate Labor Costs

Most important to accurately estimating labor costs is knowing the approximate hours required for project completion. Learn how to calculate electrical labor cost.