Process machines are critical to the profitability of processes. Safe,
efficient and reliable machines are required to maintain dependable
manufacturing processes that can create saleable, on-spec product on
time, and at the desired production rate. As the wards of process
machinery, we wish to keep our equipment in serviceable condition.
One of the most challenging aspects of a machinery professional or
operator's job is deciding whether an operating machine should be shut
down due to a perceived problem or be allowed to keep operating. If he
or she wrongly recommends a repair be conducted, the remaining useful
machine life is wasted, but if he or she is right, they can save the
organization from severe consequences, such as product releases, fires,
costly secondary machine damage, etc. This economic balancing act is at
the heart of all machinery assessments.
Troubleshooting is part science and part art. Simple troubleshooting
tables or decision trees are rarely effective in solving complex,
real-world machine problems. For this reason, the authors want to offer
a novel way to attack machinery issues that can adversely affect the
reliability and efficiency of your plant processes. The methodology
presented in this book is not a rigid "cook book" approach but rather a
flexible and dynamic process aimed at exploring process plant machines
holistically, in order uncover the true nature the problem at hand.