Reliability engineer’s work cycle

LRCM changes, in a fundamental way, how our reliability engineers work.

Previously the job cycle proceeded in the sequence:

1. Decide what type of reliability analysis should be applied.
2. Extract, clean, and convert data into an analyzable sample as required for the analysis chosen, for example, an Events and Inspections table for an EXAKT analysis.
3. Perform the analysis.

Now the sequence is:

1. Generate the desired sample by applying a filter on the original data sources.
2. Perform one or more analyes, as needed.

The difference is profound. It comes from the fact that LRCM intrinsically captures a failure mode’s working age. Since the work order closure procedure identifies the Event Type (Failure or Suspension) for a failure mode, software can discriminate and count the failure mode life-cycles in a sample. We can perform analysis on any failure mode or group of failure modes and at any level without the usual hassle of sample preparation.

So now the Reliability Engineer’s activities are enriched. His efforts are expended in monitoring work orders and training technicians, supervisors, and support staff to  make full use of the RCM concepts of Potential Failure, Functional Failure, and Suspension when describing “What I found?”. Armed with richer information and clearer text on the work orders, the Reliability Engineer can update the RCM knowledge base so that it approaches the reality of direct field and shop observations.

These changes will undoubtedly accelerate our improvement effort towards greater  effectiveness in maintenance.

© 2011, Murray Wiseman. All rights reserved.