Welcome to the sixteenth edition of M-News. This is a free newsletter on
topics of interest to Maintenance professionals, brought to you by the Plant
Maintenance Resource Center.

You are receiving this newsletter either because you have requested
subscription to the newsletter, because your site is listed at the Plant
Maintenance Resource Center website, or because you have subscribed to the
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IN THIS EDITION...
Feature Article - Steam Trap Management Software - providing the basis for
"fact-based" decision making
Feature Article - How to Start a Steam System Maintenance Program
Feature Article - Components of a Comprehensive Chiller Replacement Analysis
Feature Article - Work Order Priorities
Survey Results - PM Task Development
Current Survey - Maintenance Outsourcing
Book Review - Apollo Root Cause Analysis - A New Way Of Thinking, by Dean
Gano
Save up to 20% on Maintenance Books
Recommended Books
On the Lighter Side - Engineering Humor

For bandwidth reasons, this newsletter is in plain text, but an HTML version
is available at
www.plant-maintenance.com/m-news/edition16.shtml

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This edition of the newsletter is sponsored by Assetivity
Operations, Maintenance and Reliability Consulting from highly experienced
consultants. Specialising in Maintenance and Reliability Audits/Reviews,
Operations and Maintenance Improvement Planning, PM Optimisation, Stores and
Procurement Improvement, Outsourcing and Contractor Management.

Visit www.assetivity.com.au for more details.
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Feature Article - Selection And Procurement Of Pumps For Replacement

This article, contributed by Ashish Bartia reviews the various situations in
which it may be better to replace, rather than repair, a pump. This article
can be read at
http://www.plant-maintenance.com/articles/PumpReplacement.shtml.


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Feature Article - Steam Trap Management Software - providing the basis for
"fact-based" decision making

According to major steam trap manufacturers, compiled data has demonstrated
that if there has been no steam trap inspection and maintenance program,
upwards of 50% of the steam traps at a particular location may be wasting
steam. This article, contributed by Bruce Gorelick, V.P. of Marketing for
Conserv-it Software outlines the key considerations in establishing a
consistent, regularly scheduled trap maintenance program. it covers aspects
such as building the business case for the program, gathering information,
why steam trap programs fail, and managing steam trap contractors. This
article can be read at
http://www.plant-maintenance.com/articles/SteamTrapManagement.shtml.


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Feature Article - How to Start a Steam System Maintenance Program

Starting a Steam System Maintenance Program might seem like a large
undertaking for many facilities; however, the benefits far outweigh any
costs and effort involved. Implementing a steam system maintenance program
can save time, reduce costs, and improve operating efficiency and product.
This article from Field Data Specialists, Inc. covers the key components of
a successful Steam System Management Program, including personnel, training,
equipment and data management. This article is available at
http://www.plant-maintenance.com/articles/HowToStartaSteamSystemMaintenanceP
rogram.pdf. Note that you will need to have the free Adobe Acrobat reader
installed to be able to view this file.

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Feature Article - Components of a Comprehensive Chiller Replacement Analysis

In M-News Edition 13, Mark Harbin, Compliance Information Services Manager
with Environmental Support Solutions discussed what to consider before
deciding to convert, retrofit or replace any chiller model. This month, he
looks at how to streamline the replacement process to make it as cost
effective and easy as possible. You can read more at
http://www.plant-maintenance.com/articles/ChillerReplacementAnalysis.pdf.
Note that you will need to have the free Adobe Acrobat reader installed to
be able to view this file.


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Feature Article - Work Order Priorities

Another article from Daryl Mather's series on Maintenance Planning and
Scheduling basics. This month's article outlines an approach to setting Work
Order priorities. You can read more at
http://www.plant-maintenance.com/articles/Work_Order_Priorities.shtml.shtml.

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Survey Results - PM Task Development

This survey closed on June 30, with responses having been received from 41
people. Results are currently being analysed, and will be included in next
month's newsletter. Thank you to all who contributed.

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Current Survey - Maintenance Outsourcing

The current survey relates to outsourcing of Maintenance and Maintenance
contractors. The survey closes on August 31, 2001. You can register your
response, or view the results to date at
http://www.plant-maintenance.com/survey.shtml.

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Book Review - Apollo Root Cause Analysis - A New Way Of Thinking, by Dean
Gano

Following on from my review of Root Cause Analysis - Improving Performance
for Bottom-Line Results by Robert and Kenneth Latino in Edition 14, this
month we review another book on Root Cause Analysis - Dean Gano's book on
the Apollo method for Root Cause Analysis. The bottom line is that I really
enjoyed reading this book - it gives an interesting, and challenging,
perspective to the Root Cause Analysis process, and the Apollo process
appears to be very simple and easy to apply, yet likely to be highly
effective. In addition, there are a number of insights into the process that
would be highly applicable to individuals and organizations, regardless of
what process they are using for conducting Root Cause Analysis. This book is
highly recommended reading for anyone who is either involved in an existing
Root Cause Analysis process, or who is considering implementing such a
process - and at US$19.95, this book is extremely good value for money.

To read a full review of this book, visit
http://www.plant-maintenance.com/m-news/edition16.shtml#REVIEW.

You can purchase this book from The Plant Maintenance Resource Center, in
association with amazon.com, at
http://www.plant-maintenance.com/books/1883677017.shtml.


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Save up to 20% on Maintenance Books

The Plant Maintenance Resource Center, in association with amazon.com, is
offering discounts of up to 20% on selected Maintenance books. Check out the
following discounted specials:

- Making Common Sense Common Practice : Models for Manufacturing Excellence
(20% off, now US$23.96)

- Risk-Based Management : A Reliability-Centered Approach(20% off, now
US$44.00)

- Facilities Maintenance Management (20% off, now US$69.56)

- Air Disaster (Vol. 1) (20% off, now US$19.96)

- Air Disaster (Vol. 3) (20% off, now US$17.56)

For details on all of these books, and many more, visit
http://www.plant-maintenance.com/maintenance_books.shtml.

Note that all the above prices are valid, as at July 13, 2001, but
amazon.com retain the right to change any prices, at any time, without
notice. Check the current price in your amazon.com shopping trolley, when
ordering.

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Recommended Books

Some of the books that have previously been reviewed on this site, and which
we strongly recommend are listed below. Ron Moore's book, Making Common
Sense Common Practice is particularly recommended as representing excellent
value for money.

- Making Common Sense Common Practice : Models for Manufacturing Excellence
(20% off, now US$23.96)

- Reliability, Maintainability and Risk.

- Reliability Centered Maintenance by John Moubray

- The Handbook of Maintenance Management, by Joel Levitt

- Uptime - Strategies for Excellence in Maintenance Management

- Developing Performance Indicators for Managing Maintenance

For details on all of these books, and many more, visit
http://www.plant-maintenance.com/maintenance_books.shtml.

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On the Lighter Side - Engineering Humor

A pastor, a doctor and an engineer were waiting one morning for a
particularly slow group of golfers. The engineer fumed, “What’s with these
guys? We must have been waiting for 15 minutes!” The doctor chimed in, “I
don’t know, but I’ve never seen such ineptitude!“ The pastor said, “Hey,
here comes the greenskeeper. Let’s have a word with him.” (dramatic pause)

“Hi Fred. Say, what’s with that group ahead of us? They’re rather slow, aren
’t they?”

The greenskeeper replied, “Oh, yes, that’s a group of blind firefighters.
They lost their sight saving our clubhouse from a fire last year, so we
always let them play for free anytime.”

The group was silent for a moment. The pastor said, “That’s so sad. I think
I will say a special prayer for them tonight.”

The doctor said, “Good idea. And I’m going to contact my ophthalmologist
buddy and see if there’s anything he can do for them.”

The engineer said, “Why can’t these guys play at night?”

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I hope you have enjoyed this newsletter. All feedback, comments and
contributions to future editions are very welcome (as are enquiries about
sponsorship of this newsletter).

Alexander (Sandy) Dunn
Plant Maintenance Resource Center
webmaster@...
http://www.plant-maintenance.com