Time troubles

Although the feature articles in this issue cover a wide range of technical and maintenance management topics, there’s a common theme throughout them: Finding the time to do maintenance work properly. I’m sure you’re quite familiar with this lament, so these stories will give you some pointers to freeing up more time, or working more effectively so there’s more moments for better maintenance.

For example, the case history on page 19 revisits the maintenance team at the CEZinc refinery in Quebec and describes how it saved a million dollars over two years by eliminating calender-based motor replacement cycles and switching to condition-based maintenance (CBM). By monitoring its equipment and repairing or replacing only what needed attention, the company saved gobs of time as well as money.

Taking the CBM approach up a notch, experts from Matrikon in Edmonton, Alta., explain on page 32 how maintenance requirements can be automated in part using real-time communications that link directly from plant machinery to CMMS systems. The process easily eliminates time spent on unnecessary maintenance, reducing the labour workload.

Furthermore, CMMS consultant Peter Phillips is continually asked the question, “Where is the time going to come from to do the maintenance?” He explains on page 36 three steps that will free up maintenance time by using maintenance management software effectively, saving minutes upon minutes for many tasks, or in many cases, providing proof of the need for additional maintenance manpower.

To avoid wasting time, it’s also critical to implement good preventive maintenance tasks and work orders. Cliff Williams explains the relevance of making good PMs in his series on World-Class Maintenance on page 37.

As usual, there are several other articles of interest, including four technical reports on machinery alignment techniques, as well as tips on avoiding the 11 serious management blunders you may be making with your staff.

Take care of these and time may magically be on your side.