Greetings,
I had a great time speaking at EASTEC Tuesday.
Here is a snippet of the talk…
Robert Kravontka
The Maintenance Geek
I got to Speak at EASTEC Tuesday
Reply
Category Archives: Total Productive Maintenance (TPM)
The Maintenance Geek is speaking at EASTEC on May 16th at 3:50 – 4:25pm
Please mark you calendars: Tuesday May 16th at 3:50 pm.
Register today and get ready for the EASTEC experience, including:
- Hundreds of exhibitors showcasing the latest technologies,
equipment and products - Keynotes and technical presentations with industry leaders and experts
- Networking opportunities to meet new contacts and develop relationships
- Resources that can solve your company’s biggest challenges
You already know how valuable a trip to EASTEC can be for your business. Register now and mark your calendar to attend in May 2017.
Visit easteconline.com to view the exhibitor list, floor plan, featured technologies and much more.
SHOW LOCATION:
Eastern States Exposition
1305 Memorial Ave
West Springfield, MA 01089
SHOW HOURS:
Tuesday, May 16
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday, May 17
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
3:50 – 4:25 come and hear the Maintenance Geek speak on the 5 steps to get out of the BREAKDOWN mode.
Thursday, May 18
9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Hope to see you there.
The Maintenance Geek has been asked to speak at EASTEC in May…
May 16-18, 2017 | Eastern States Exposition, West Springfield, Massachusetts
Here is the letter I received:
Dear Robert:
On behalf of SME, thank you for submitting an abstract for EASTEC 2017. We are pleased to inform you that your abstract, “5 Steps to Get Out of the Break Down Mode“, has been accepted for presentation at this event taking place May 16-18, 2017 at the Eastern States Exposition in W. Springfield, MA. You play an important role in the educational program, and we look forward to working with you in the coming months. Specific details regarding the day and time of your presentation will be sent to you within the next few weeks.
As soon as I find out the date and time I will put it up here.
Register today and get ready for the EASTEC experience, including:
- Hundreds of exhibitors showcasing the latest technologies,
equipment and products - Keynotes and technical presentations with industry leaders and experts
- Networking opportunities to meet new contacts and develop relationships
- Resources that can solve your company’s biggest challenges
You already know how valuable a trip to EASTEC can be for your business. Register now and mark your calendar to attend in May 2017. Simply click here to update your contact information and complete your EASTEC 2017 registration.
Visit easteconline.com to view the exhibitor list, floorplan, featured technologies and much more.
SHOW LOCATION:
Eastern States Exposition
1305 Memorial Ave
West Springfield, MA 01089
SHOW HOURS:
Tuesday, May 16
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday, May 17
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Thursday, May 18
9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Thanks,
Robert
The Maintenance Geek
5 Steps to a World Class Maintenance Organization is available
5 Steps to a World Class Maintenance Organization for the Small Manufacturer
Are your best maintenance professionals ready to retire?
Do your younger people need to work smarter not harder?
In General, breakdowns are 5 to 10 times more expensive that preventing it in the first place.
My new book 5 Steps to a World Class Maintenance Organization is out and available on Amazon.com http://amzn.to/2c78hia
If you want a signed copy send me an e mail at: robert@maintenancegeek.com
I will get it out to you quickly. Let me know who and where.
Here are some highlights of what to expect.
Step 1: Rank your Equipment and collect some simple data.
Step 2: Control your critical spare parts.
Step 3 Stop Wasted PMs
Step 4 Focused Improvement Events
Step 5 Formal Training
Step 5 of the 5 Steps to a World Class Maintenance Organization
Are your best maintenance professionals ready to retire? 
Do your younger people need to work smarter not harder?
In General breakdowns are 5 to 10 times more expensive that preventing it in the first place.
My new book 5 Steps to a World Class Maintenance Organization is in final proof
Here are some highlights or what to expect.
Step 1: Rank your Equipment and collect some simple data.
5 Steps to a World Class Maintenance Organization for the Small Manufacturer
Step 2: Control your critical spare parts.
Step 3 Stop Wasted PMs
Step 4 Focused Improvement Events
Step 5 Formal Training
90% of all present maintenance professionals are not formally trained
World Class Maintenance shows up directly in the Bottom Line. Fight for budget money with Dollar Based Arguments. The nuts and bolts guys must be able to talk to the brains and bucks guys to show the value of a world class maintenance program. Typically manufacturers see a 10 times increase in production to training dollar expended.
Assess your skills gap.
Set goals and prioritize the path to filling your skills gaps.
Out Source some of your Maintenance Duties. Effective PM’s can be done by the equipment manufacturers, and they can help you develop a program your people can follow. There are many companies offering this service on a contract basis.
Look for funding for maintenance training. It is available at many Department of labor offices and your state MEPs. (Manufacturing Extension Partnerships).
5 Steps to a World Class Maintenance Organization is ready to be published, in August 2016.
Send me a note if you would like a discounted signed copy when it comes out.
Thanks,
Robert Kravontka
The Maintenance Geek
Step 4 of the 5 steps to a world class maintenance organization.
Step 1: Rank your Equipment and collect some simple data.
5 Steps to a World Class Maintenance Organization for the Small Manufacturer
Step 2: Control your critical spare parts.
Step 3 Stop Wasted PMs
Step 4 Focused Improvement Events
Set up an event with one of your most critical pieces of equipment. Who should be the Players in your focused improvement event? Maintenance Personnel , Operations Management, Operators, Engineering, Finance, Material handlers, getting someone from the “C” suite will add a lot of credibility to the program.
Develop the “keep it running” mindset vs the “fix it when it breaks” historic plan.
Sit back and look at these critical pieces of equipment, once you have them running in like new condition, ask what it will take to keep them running? Not what do we need to keep on hand to fix it the next time it goes down.
The focused improvement event plan is to shut it down, take it apart, clean it, then put it back together in like new condition. Put it in its most productive state.
Now the goal will be to develop countermeasures to contamination, lubrication and access.
Here is what you should include in a typical focused improvement event:
- Put together a cross functional team.
- Measure and calculate OEE.
- Your goal is zero equipment stoppages.
- Measure your repetitive failures
- Open up the equipment
- Look for:
- Contamination
- Lack of Lubrication or too much lubrication
- Air Leaks
- Stabilize the equipment
- Put countermeasures in place to keep equipment in like new condition
- Close up the equipment.
Duplicate this effort on the next most critical machines
Here is an example of a walk around sheet with visuals to help even new operators see what they are looking for, and alert maintenance when something of out of spec..
5 Steps to a World Class Maintenance Organization is ready to be published, in August 2016.
Send me a note if you would like a discounted signed copy.
Thanks,
Robert Kravontka
The Maintenance Geek
Step 3 of the 5 steps in Developing a World Class Maintenance Organization
Step 1: Rank your Equipment and collect some simple data.
Step 2: Control your critical spare parts.
Step 3 Stop Wasted PMs
Typically 50% of PM’s are wasted.
An example would be doing a PM in an electrical panel, the goal is to tighten the 100 or so connections, typically 1 or 2 will need tightening. This is mind numbing work, and can lead to damaged connectors. Unintended consequences. If predictive tools were used, like an infra-red camera, only the 1 or 2 connections would need to be tightened, and the broken connector would have been avoided.
Predictive Equipment:
Ultra Sound for air leaks, proper bearing lubrication, and steam trap health.
Infra-Red for motor life, any motor over 150 degrees needs to be watched, motor life drops off exponentially with each 20 degrees of temperature increase. Loose electrical connections, are a safety and fire hazard. Process anomalies like furnace insulation, along with facility monitoring like roofs and air infiltration can pay for the equipment with lower energy costs.
Oil Analysis to extend intervals between changes. Accomplish this by a route based oil testing program.
Vibration Analysis to predict a host of motor, connector, and bearing issues.
Operators can be very predictive. They must own their machines and communicate the health of their machines to maintenance.
This picture is a Zebra card that shows oil level. This also shows quality, as it is not milky or speckled with contaminants, or discolored from heat. 
Get trained in Oil Analysis, Thermography, Vibration and Ultrasound. There is lots of free training available from the equipment manufacturers. You can hire this equipment out or rent it.
Want to know more, go to the upper right and sign up for the next exciting episode of the Maintenance Geek Blog.
Look out for my upcoming book. 5 steps to a World Class Maintenance Organization.
Robert Kravontka
The Maintenance Geek
Step 2 in Developing a World Class Maintenance Organization
Step 1: Rank your Equipment and collect some simple data.
Step 2: Control your critical spare parts.
Use these questions to decide what is critical.
- Is the item obsolete or likely to be obsolete in 6 months?
- Can you use something else that you have in stock as a substitute?
- Can you forecast when you will need it, using predictive tools?
- Can the item be delivered in an acceptable lead time (quick/local delivery, overnight)?
- Can the part in service be repaired in an acceptable lead time (repair rather than replace)?
- Is the item being ordered for a project or upcoming PM?
- Can the need for the item be eliminated (engineered out)?
- Can we use someone else’s stock (share/pooling)?
Rule-of-Thumb:
If you must have it to satisfy customer demand, stock it.
If it cannot be obtained within 24 – 48 hours stock it.
The cost has No Impact stock it.
Want to know more, go to the upper right and sign up for the next exciting episode of the Maintenance Geek Blog.
Robert Kravontka
The Maintenance Geek
5 Steps to a World Class Maintenance Organization for the Small Manufacturer
What are the 6 steps to optimize your compressed air system?
Compressed air leaks, and inefficient blow offs can waste thousands of dollars of electricity each year. This affects your companies production costs and bottom line.
What are the 6 steps to optimize your compressed air system?
- Determine the main compressed air users in your facility
- Find and fix the air leaks with Ultrasonic Leak Detection
- Upgrade your blow off and cooling operations with engineered products for less air use and lower decibel levels.
High efficiency nozzles High efficiency air knives High efficiency blow offs
- Turn off compressed air when not in use, or put it on a timer to only run when required
- Use intermediate storage next to the point of use
- Control the air pressure near the point of use.
The Maintenance Geek LLC is proud to be a stocking distributor for Exair the home of intelligent compressed air products
E Mail me for a catalog and to get 10% off of current pricing. robert@maintenancegeek.com
Click in the upper right hand corner to get this blog sent to you as soon as it is published.→
Robert Kravontka “The Maintenance Geek ”
Introducing 5 Steps to a World Class Maintenance Organization
Planning a June 2016 release of my new E Book called “5 Steps to a World Class Maintenance Organization” This is designed for the smaller manufacturer with a maintenance group of one or a few who do it all, including building and equipment maintenance.
Are your best Maintenance People getting ready to retire?
Do your younger newer maintenance professionals need to work smarter not harder?
How would an increase in productivity benefit your company?
Would reducing your maintenance Costs Help?
Are you getting tired of putting out fires all the time?
Does your equipment go down when you need it most?
Take a look at the 5 steps to help you get out of that breakdown mode.
We are going to have some fun with a method to help yourself and your company.
Step 1: Look at the building blocks of Maintenance
Step 2: Control your spare parts
Step 3: Stop Wasted PM’s
Step 4: Focused Improvements
Step 5: Formal Training
Then we will put it all together.
Click in the upper right to follow my blog…
Thanks,
Robert Kravontka The Maintenance Geek