We are considering equipping our tradespersons with basic vibration pens, such as the SKF marlin pen, to enhance our maintenance program at our 2-paper-machine facility. Currently, our well-established Condition Monitoring (CM) group utilizes CSI 2130s for fault finding. Our Vibration Analysis (VA) technicians primarily focus on fault finding and we aim to allocate more of their time to root cause analysis and advanced vibration analysis techniques such as Operating Deflection Shape (ODS) analysis, calender barring studies, and oil analysis. Our plan is to have tradespersons conduct vibration pen measurements on less critical equipment like basic pumps, fans, and agitators every 4 weeks, while reducing the frequency of Vibration Analysis technician visits to every 6 months. This will allow them to maintain accurate databases while focusing on more advanced tasks. However, our VA technicians have expressed concerns about potential equipment failures being missed by the vibration pens, as well as an increase in false alarm requests from tradespersons. We are seeking insights from other facilities that have implemented similar strategies to learn from their experiences. Thank you.
Our operations utilize pens for data collection at our facility. However, one recurring issue we face is the inability to locate the specific beam in the control room where the pens are placed for measurements. Consistency in data collection is crucial, which is why we have marked the equipment with yellow dots to indicate the designated point. Surprisingly, half of the pens have gone missing without anyone noticing. It seems our pen users are struggling to find the designated spot. It's important to address this issue to ensure accurate and consistent data collection.
Considering the recent discussion on iPhones, it may be a smart investment to provide these devices for your technicians. The cost is comparable, and having the ability to easily contact a colleague for assistance can be invaluable. - Keith
After testing this tool, we encountered the same issues mentioned by Aubrey. The workload increased due to inaccurate reports. Additionally, the technicians taking measurements at various points each time struggled to maintain consistent pressure on the equipment.
I always recommend to my clients that they invest in SKF pens or another trusted brand of overall vibration meter to assess their own work. By comparing before and after readings on coupling and belt alignments, they can ensure quality control. Although overall readings may not be the best indicator of emerging issues, I've observed a decrease in overall velocity readings when a bearing is failing. Trending the data from the pens can be cumbersome, requiring a return to manual recording methods. Even inputting the data into a PDA for analysis can be time-consuming and provide minimal value in my opinion. Regards, John J.
In response to the recent discussion about iPhones, it may be a wise investment to provide these to your tech team. They offer the same features as other devices, plus the ability to easily reach out for assistance. This suggestion presents a fantastic opportunity to enhance communication and productivity within your team.
Personally, I commend the idea of integrating tradespersons into your condition monitoring workflow. We deployed a similar strategy at our facility a couple years back and found it to be fairly effective. While there were some initial hiccups with false alarms, quality training sessions for our staff helped significantly reduce these over time. Pairing the vibration pens with a basic understanding of vibration spectrums and machinery health really helped. Furthermore, we established protocols so that in case of borderline results, a second reading would be taken by a VA technician before any decision. Yes, pens may miss some of the minor faults as compared to the CSI 2130s initially, but your critical machinery is still being monitored regularly by the VA experts. This mix seemed to have balanced our needs best, effectively delegating tasks without adversely affecting our equipment maintenance and reliability.
I applaud the proactive nature of your proposed plan– indeed streamlining the monitoring process can free up your VA technicians for complex analysis tasks which will benefit the whole operation. We implemented something similar in our facility a year back and yes, there were initially concerns about potential misses and false alarms. However, training our tradespersons properly on how to understand vibration pen measurements and determining thresholds of what qualifies as a cause for alarm significantly reduced those issues. Still, you must be prepared for a transition period where your technicians might be met with a higher number of inquiries– patience and solid communication during this period will play a crucial role in its success. It's also important to keep an open line of feedback with the tradespersons and provide additional guidance as needed to improve their ability to make accurate judgments. As far as equipment failures are concerned, we created a failsafe by scheduling more frequent overall equipment analysis, say quarterly rather than every six months, especially as the system is newly introduced.
Your plan to integrate vibration pens into your maintenance program sounds strategically sound, focusing on refining your team’s skills and maximizing efficiency. That being said, I understand the concerns raised by your VA technicians; we faced similar challenges when we introduced vibration pens at our facility. Firstly, consider thorough training for your tradespersons on pen usage and understanding its readings. This could help reduce false alarms significantly. Secondly, instead of spacing VA technician visits to every 6 months, perhaps consider a more phased approach, gradually extending the frequency of their visits based on the success ratio of your new workflow. This way, you balance both adherence to your new plan and considerations for potential equipment failures. You can then assess the robustness of your maintenance program while mitigating risk.
It sounds like a solid plan to streamline your maintenance program, but I totally understand the concerns of your VA technicians. In my experience, implementing vibration pens for routine checks has worked well, especially when combined with a solid training program for the tradespeople. They need to understand what they’re looking for and how to interpret the results, so false alarms can be minimized. Setting clear guidelines on what constitutes a "critical" finding can also help. Sharing data between tradespersons and the VA team can create a more collaborative approach, too. We saw success in enhancing our program while ensuring that critical issues still got the attention they deserved, so definitely worth a try!
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Answer: - Vibration pens are portable devices used for basic vibration measurements on equipment like pumps, fans, and agitators. They can help in identifying potential issues early on, allowing for proactive maintenance and reducing downtime in paper machine facilities.
Answer: - By delegating routine vibration measurements to tradespersons using vibration pens, VA technicians can focus more on root cause analysis and advanced vibration analysis techniques, leading to a more efficient use of their expertise and time.
Answer: - VA technicians have expressed concerns about potential equipment failures being missed by vibration pens and an increase in false alarm requests from tradespersons. Addressing these concerns is crucial for the successful implementation of the new strategy.
Answer: - Tradespersons are recommended to conduct vibration pen measurements every 4 weeks on less critical equipment, while VA technician visits are reduced to every 6 months. This approach aims to maintain accurate databases while enabling VA technicians to focus on more advanced tasks.
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