When organizations aim to benchmark maintenance and availability performance, a unified framework of predefined indicators is essential. Without a common language, comparisons risk becoming apples‑to‑oranges. The Society of Maintenance & Reliability Professionals (SMRP) and the European Federation o

According to the latest Aberdeen Group benchmark report, Collaborate Asset Maintenance Strategies, 87% of asset‑intensive operators confirm that proper maintenance is essential to their financial success. The study shows that leading firms outperform their peers in critical metrics: higher return on

Following the proven success of AIRMAN in America West operations, Airbus Customer Services is proud to welcome US Airways’ fleet engineering team as the newest AIRMAN user. Airbus has signed an agreement with the US Airways Group to deploy AIRMAN across its Airbus fleet of more than 200 aircraft.By

Behind the scenes, a sophisticated blend of mechanical engineering and advanced HVAC technology sustains Cleveland Metroparks’ RainForest, a tropical oasis located just 40 miles from the Canadian border. The Cleveland (Ohio) Metroparks, a recreational authority renowned for its “emerald necklace” of

In today’s interconnected market, comparing maintenance and availability metrics requires a shared language. The Society for Maintenance and Reliability Professionals (SMRP) and the European Federation of National Maintenance Societies (EFNMS) are pioneering a joint effort to catalogue and reconcile

My early mentor once advised that surrounding yourself with exceptional talent and diverse perspectives is the cornerstone of lasting success. He summed it up: “It’s not what you know, but who you know—and what they know and can teach you—that truly matters.” As editor of Reliable Plant magazine ove

In a recent article I shared my perspective on integrating operators into plant reliability. The first step is to standardize operations so every operator works correctly and consistently. Next, bring operators into the reliability loop: conduct inspections, identify proactive work, and prioritize a

Dick Cole, Vice President of Operations at Karl Schmidt Unisia, describes the Marinette, Wis., facility as the world’s most diverse piston plant. He attributes this reputation to a blend of product breadth, customer mix, manufacturing capability, and cultural diversity. Diverse products and custome

Many reactive organizations assume root cause analysis (RCA) is the first step to reliability improvement. Yet, after a few RCA sessions, the findings often highlight well‑known gaps such as weak preventive maintenance (PM) and poor planning and scheduling. The typical justification for launching an

Let’s dive into wrench time: what it is, why it matters, and how to measure it accurately. What is Wrench Time? Wrench time measures the actual working hours a crafts person spends on a job, handling tools and performing tasks directly in front of the workpiece. It excludes any time spent acquiring

Many organizations routinely reassess and re‑tender MRO contracts every three to seven years. Lubricants, especially in today’s market where oil‑based commodity prices are climbing, are no exception. While the practice of switching suppliers is common, it brings a critical risk that can compromise e

The biggest hurdle most maintenance leaders face is convincing senior executives of the value of condition‑based maintenance. As one maintenance manager explained: “We ran a robust condition monitoring program for 15 years, successfully preventing production losses by catching equipment problems bef

Threaded fasteners are the backbone of precision in both light‑weight tools and heavy‑industrial machinery. They set and maintain critical tolerances, yet loosening is a leading cause of equipment failure, translating into millions of dollars of unscheduled downtime each year. When a fastener self‑l

The Reliability in Action department showcases reader‑submitted case studies. To have yours featured, email parnold@noria.com or mail Reliable Plant, P.O. Box 87, Fort Atkinson, WI 53538. If we publish your study, we’ll send you an official Reliable Plant T‑shirt. Here’s this issue’s contribution: T

Open warehouse doors are a siren call for birds. In a 4,000‑sq‑ft space with 15‑ft ceilings, even the smallest species can find a warm, undisturbed nest. Wendell Murphy, vice‑president of an Avis rental franchise and air‑freight trucking firm in Lexington, Ky., has spent a decade battling this nuisa

In today’s fast‑paced global economy, plant and facilities managers must maximize uptime while minimizing maintenance costs. Reliability‑Centered Maintenance (RCM) is a proven strategy that delivers exactly that. The University of California, Irvine Extension is offering a concise three‑day course,

Design, Operate, Maintain (DOM) is a framework coined by ARC Advisory Group that gives engineers and operations teams a shared language for asset management, maintenance, repair, and daily operations. Plant designers and those who run and maintain facilities must collaborate closely to drive efficie

Aircraft and spacecraft maintenance traditionally relies on time‑consuming, expensive manual inspections. Recent advances in sensor‑actuator networks are transforming this landscape through Structural Health Monitoring (SHM), a revolutionary method that automatically assesses the integrity of comple

For more than a decade, Trelleborg Automotive’s anti‑vibration team has been refining a breakthrough noise‑control technology that uses active force cancellation to deliver an exceptionally quiet ride. The system deploys specialised actuators positioned near mount attachment points. These actuators

I was intrigued by the recent acquisition of publicly‑listed Georgia‑Pacific by privately‑held Koch Industries. As a consultant, I’ve observed that privately‑held firms often implement reliability initiatives more effectively than their publicly‑traded peers. Is privatization the future for American