The Importance of Asset Criticality

The Importance of Asset Criticality

Here’s the scenario. You’re a recently hired Asset Manager/Reliability Engineer and you’ve been tasked with defining and implementing plant-wide Reliability initiatives. Your initial assessment reveals a significant number of asset breakdowns, overall asset health is degrading, and reactive/emergent maintenance is the norm. It’s a daunting task and you’re not entirely sure where to begin.

When determining which assets to address first, the asset criticality/priority matrix should serve as your guide. Initiatives such as RCM, FMEA, Bill of Material (BOM) development, PM/PdM application, etc., should be targeted toward the most critical assets first with an eventual progression towards the least critical. In your new role, you should first review the Master Equipment List (MEL) for completeness, accuracy and prioritization. Properly ranked/prioritized assets take into consideration all aspects of an organization and have been ranked using mathematical formulas or quantitative analysis, thus eliminating the “gut” feel and subjectivity from the ranking process. Criticality criterion regarding Maintenance, Production/Operations, Safety, Environmental and Quality should be developed and personnel from the aforementioned departments should be represented during the ranking process. An added benefit to having asset criticalities is greater accuracy when prioritizing work during Planning & Scheduling activities. So in conclusion, utilize those asset criticalities to “eat the elephant” one bite at a time and make an overwhelming task seem much more manageable and achievable.

Work Order Maintenance Tip

Work Order Maintenance Tip

When is a work order truly complete? There’s more to work order completion than simply performing the actual maintenance tasks and changing the WO status to “Complete” within the CMMS. Although tasks will vary depending on the type of work performed, consider the following activities to ensure a successful WO completion.

• Perform general housekeeping activities and return the work area to an operating condition. Work area should be clean of rags, grease/oil, trash, etc. and all items have been properly disposed. Scaffolding, safety barrier tape, etc. is removed as required.


• The Craft have notified Operations personnel that the equipment is ready for Post Maintenance Testing (PMT). Job related LOTO is removed and equipment PMT is satisfactorily performed.


• All unused job material/parts are returned to stores.


• All specialty tools and equipment are returned to their proper location.


• All work permits are closed-out as required.


• WO completion information is captured (hardcopy/electronically in CMMS)
  
  • Detailed description of work performed
  
  
  • Proper Failure Code information is documented (Failure/Cause/Remedy)
  
  
  • As Found/As Left conditions
  
  
  • Any materials not originally issued/purchased against the WO. Compare against the asset BOM and Job Plan to see if these materials should be added.
  
  
  • Labor hours for all craft
  
  
  • Start/Finish time
  
  
  • Job Plan feedback such as missing material, inaccurate procedures and improvements.
  
  
  • Recommendations for adjusting PM frequency
  
  
• If follow-up work is required (additional repairs, modifications, etc.), a separate WO should be entered into the CMMS.


• If the nature of the work met the requirements to trigger a Root Cause Failure Analysis (RCFA), all documentation, failed parts, etc. should be provided to individuals responsible for conducting the RCFA.


• If a repairable spare was removed, ensure the spare is returned to the appropriate location for repairs and the “move” history of this spare is captured using the CMMS rotating item/asset functionality.


• If a new asset was installed, ensure all related information is captured and updated in the CMMS including nameplate information, the asset BOM, Job Plan and PM/PdM information, etc.


• New PdM baseline readings are taken as required.


• Drawings and schematics are updated to reflect any changes.


• All change control documentation is completed as required.

A properly completed work order will benefit many departments within an organization. For example, good housekeeping practices align with a facility’s safety and environmental directives. Storeroom & purchasing personnel will use this information to streamline their inventories and improve their services to the craft person. Detailed and accurate job plan feedback will improve the planning & scheduling process. Reliability engineering personnel will use this information to improve asset reliability. Incorporating the aforementioned work order closeout activities as a part of the work control process is crucial for a facility if they’re to achieve their overall asset management and reliability initiatives.

Don't Let Them Shut You Down: Part 3

Don't Let Them Shut You Down: Part 3

Also to consider is OSHA code 29 CFR Part 1910.119. The section listed below specifically states that equipment will be maintained and the history of maintenance will be documented. It goes one-step further by identifying safe operations as part of the requirement.

1910.119(d)(3)(iii)

• For existing equipment designed and constructed in accordance with codes, standards, or practices that are no longer in general use, the employer shall determine and document that the equipment is designed, maintained, inspected, tested, and operating in a safe manner.

1910.119(j)(3)

• Training for process maintenance activities. The employer shall train each employee involved in maintaining the on-going integrity of process equipment in an overview of that process and its hazards and in the procedures applicable to the employee's job tasks to assure that the employee can perform the job tasks in a safe manner.

1910.119(j)(4)iv

• The employer shall document each inspection and test that has been performed on process equipment. The documentation shall identify the date of the inspection or test, the name of the person who performed the inspection or test, the serial number or other identifier of the equipment on which the inspection or test was performed, a description of the inspection or test performed, and the results of the inspection or test.

1910.119(j)(5)

• Equipment deficiencies. The employer shall correct deficiencies in equipment that are outside acceptable limits (defined by the process safety information in paragraph (d) of this section) before further use or in a safe and timely manner when necessary means are taken to assure safe operation.

A significant factor in maintenance is the potential for change in a piece of capital equipment. In the Texas City BP case study, there were several pieces of instrumentation that had been changed without proper documentation. This affected several business processes downstream, specifically, startup procedures. Due to historical events like Three Mile Island and Chernobyl, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has created excellent guidelines for configuration & change management.

10 CFR 50.65

• (a)(1) Each holder of an operating license for a nuclear power plant under this part and each holder of a combined license under part 52 of this chapter after the Commission makes the finding under § 52.103(g) of this chapter, shall monitor the performance or condition of structures, systems, or components, against licensee-established goals, in a manner sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that these structures, systems, and components, as defined in paragraph (b) of this section, are capable of fulfilling their intended functions. …When the performance or condition of a structure, system, or component does not meet established goals, appropriate corrective action shall be taken….


• (4) Before performing maintenance activities (including but not limited to surveillance, post-maintenance testing, and corrective and preventive maintenance), the licensee shall assess and manage the increase in risk that may result from the proposed maintenance activities. …


• (b) The scope of the monitoring program specified in paragraph (a)(1) of this section shall include safety related and non-safety related structures, systems, and components, as follows:


• Safety-related structures, systems and components that are relied upon to remain functional during and following design basis events to ensure the integrity of the reactor coolant pressure boundary, the capability to shut down the reactor and maintain it in a safe shutdown condition, or the capability to prevent or mitigate the consequences of accidents that could result in potential offsite exposure comparable to the guidelines in Sec. 50.34(a)(1), Sec. 50.67(b)(2), or Sec. 100.11 of this chapter, as applicable.


• Non-safety related structures, systems, or components:


• That are relied upon to mitigate accidents or transients or are used in plant emergency operating procedures (EOPs); or


• Whose failure could prevent safety-related structures, systems, and components from fulfilling their safety-related function; or


• Whose failure could cause a reactor scram or actuation of a safety-related system.

Some may suggest that in addressing CFR’s, all that is necessary is to draft a procedure or policy. That may be true until the production process has a failure that affects product quality (e.g. Pharmaceuticals) or people are injured or killed (e.g. Chemical Processing, Pharmaceuticals, Aviation, Manufacturing). This exposes the company to higher risk and has the resultant negative publicity. In regulated industries, federal marshals can walk in with a warrant and walk out with executives in handcuffs.

The most basic parts of a reliability program will address compliance requirements, mitigate or eliminate failures and reduce the cost to maintain assets that fall under various CFR’s. The reason for this is the components of a comprehensive reliability program go deep into the business processes across organizational units as well as the company as a whole. In addition, new regulations or stringent enforcements of existing regulations may not become necessary.

In order to have a successful reliability program there must be the following components:

• Maintenance History Tracking


• Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)


• Materials Specification Requirements


• Materials Stores Management (MRO)


• Management of Change (MOC)


• Maintenance Business Process


• Design for Reliability

These components provide a foundation to build good data on the asset base, thus improving equipment health. The information gathered gives the entire business unit the power to make well-informed decisions. Everything from product quality to throughput capacity can be identified in the context of reliability.

Taking the road to reliability enables the organization to do the right thing for its company and the community in which the company resides. Eliminating failures and exceeding regulatory requirements will reduce government intervention and lead toward a more proactive organization/environment. Less government oversight will reduce operating expenses once thought necessary to achieve compliance.

Don't Let Them Shut You Down: Part 2

Don't Let Them Shut You Down: Part 2

Another significant event was the power outage in 2003, which blacked out parts of New York, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. The congressional investigation focused heavily on the system failures from the overloading of the grid. They talked about weak infrastructure and an aging power grid.

However, the root cause of the system wide failure was not discussed. According to the investigation, deferred maintenance was the initial cause.

Several trees scheduled for trimming contacted power lines in Ohio, tripping the first substation. Why this occurred is not discussed, but new regulations were introduced just as fast as Congress could write them. Among them was a new requirement for tree trimming to a specific distance from the power line.

In March 2005, the Texas City, TX BP refinery experienced an explosion that was felt for miles. This particular event was responsible for the deaths of 15 people and injuries to another 180 people.

The explosion occurred during the startup of a raffinate tower after a maintenance shutdown. There were many factors in this case which contributed to the resulting explosion. Among them, operator fatigue, outdated standard instructions, and malfunctioning instruments among others.

This event also had a more obvious management connection. BP’s drive toward cost cutting had reduced head counts and forced the plant to rely heavily on contract labor. There had also been a halt put on any work efforts to update the process equipment. Much of the Texas City equipment had outlived its planned life cycle. This series of decisions and equipment health created the potential for a large disaster, and the worst-case scenario was realized.

The Reliability Connection

Maintenance is not a passive player in the events listed above. It was an integral part of each incident and contributed significantly to the outcome. A holistic reliability approach to the maintenance programs in each of these cases could have prevented their occurrence and outcomes.

The link lies in understanding the Codes of Federal Regulation (CFR). There are several common themes in CFR’s that a comprehensive reliability program will address and/or exceed.

21 CFR Part 211.67; FDA
Equipment cleaning and maintenance.

• (a) Equipment and utensils shall be cleaned, maintained, and sanitized at appropriate intervals to prevent malfunctions or contamination that would alter the safety, identity, strength, quality, or purity of the drug product beyond the official or other established requirements.


• (b) Written procedures shall be established and followed for cleaning and maintenance of equipment, including utensils, used in the manufacture, processing, packing, or holding of a drug product. These procedures shall include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:


• (1) Assignment of responsibility for cleaning and maintaining equipment;


• (2) Maintenance and cleaning schedules, including, where appropriate, sanitizing schedules;


• (3) A description in sufficient detail of the methods, equipment, and materials used in cleaning and maintenance operations, and the methods of disassembling and reassembling equipment as necessary to assure proper cleaning and maintenance;


• (4) Removal or obliteration of previous batch identification;


• (5) Protection of clean equipment from contamination prior to use;


• (6) Inspection of equipment for cleanliness immediately before use.


• (c) Records shall be kept of maintenance, cleaning, sanitizing, and inspection as specified in 211.180 and 211.182

The example contained in the FDA code illustrates this reliability connection. Section (a) and (b) specifically instruct the company to identify responsibilities for maintenance and draft standard work procedures.

40 CFR Part 68.73; vessel mechanical integrity

• Written Procedures


• Training For Process Maintenance Activities


• Inspection and Testing


• Equipment Deficiencies (“Operator shall correct deficiencies…”)


• Quality Assurance (“Correct Materials, Correct Design, Proper installation.)

This EPA Regulation is specifically for vessel integrity. This is an example where industry specific codes are addressed through a comprehensive reliability program. Note, there are statements in the code requiring written procedures, training and corrective actions for equipment deficiencies.