Avoid maintenance surprises: Summit 2010, Sept 7 to 9

SmartSignal, a condition monitoring firm, will host its Summit 2010 on Sept 7 thru 9 at the Fairmont Hotel, Chicago. Find more conference details, download a pdf agenda, and register at: www.smartsignal.com/summit.aspx
At Summit 2008, over 200 SmartSignal customers gathered to discuss best practices, hear about product developments, listen to industry gurus, and network with peers. The summit organizers are glad to be back in 2010 with an even better Summit. The company says it has a lot to talk about, with multiple new product and service offerings and over 30 new customers from around the world since 2008—new users who can bring fresh perspectives on how they optimize operations.
To make Summit 2010 useful and engaging, the organizers have:

1. Content provided almost entirely by peers talking straight talk to peers about real-world stories: how they implement Predictive Analytics and Diagnostics solutions into businesses. What works, how to get quick results, and how to overcome challenges.
2. More time to ask questions and interact—with a new program of customer panels followed by Q&A.
3. Access to experts and current users to learn about SmartSignal products and services.
4. An entire track of training sessions, including CEU credit courses on equipment maintenance & reliability and featuring “The Reliability Game.”
5. Vision of a transformational maintenance breakthrough with reports from pioneering customers.

A growing list of engaging customer speakers from companies such as APS, Alyeska, BP Alaska, Caterpillar, Chevron, Consumers Energy, Constellation Energy, Edipower, Entergy, Gas Natural Fenosa, Invenergy, Laborelec, Mirant, New Harquahala, RRI Energy, RWE Npower, Scottish and Southern Energy, SRP, We Energies, and others.

Equipment monitor on the job 24/7

The SKF WindCon 3.0, a monitor for wind turbines, provides a way for wind farms to extend turbine maintenance intervals, manage maintenance resources, reduce unplanned downtime, predict remaining turbine service life, and decrease operating costs/kWh. The system, from SKF USA Inc, Kulpsville, Pa, monitors and tracks unbalanced rotor blades, misalignment, shaft deflections, mechanical looseness and foundation weakness, bearings and gears, tower and blade vibrations and resonance, electrical problems, and inadequate lubrication, among others.

This third generation design, monitors component conditions so maintenance decisions are based on actual machine conditions instead of arbitrary schedules.

The monitor connects to all turbine systems, including those revolving around centralized lubrication, blade monitoring, and gearbox oil condition. The equipment can continuously monitor single units or entire wind farms, even from afar using SKF WebCon software.

Tools and kits for turbine maintenance teams

Snap-on Industrial designs, manufactures, and distributes hand and power tools, specialty tools, storage equipment, and training to meet industry needs. The company says it is ready to meet the needs of organizations engaged in the wind industry from around the world. Any combination of Snap-on products can be assembled in a custom kit for use on wind-power applications. That includes traditional hand tools, torque tools such as click, digital torque, dial wrenches and calibration devices, power tools and, other bolting equipment. Tools can be organized in a soft or hard-sided case for ease-of-use and easy lifting. With regard to its mobile tool-crib program, Snap-on Industrial says it can deliver jobsite tool packages in containers (conexes), trailers, or turn-key service trucks.

How maintenance staffs trim inventory by 50%

Is it possible for a maintenance organization to reduce on-hand inventory by 50 to 70%, and eliminate 50 to 75% of the P.O. numbers it issues, documents, and tracks? Duncan Industrial

, Oklahoma City, Okla., says it can show companies how to decrease manual transactions and their costs incurred by tracking and stocking inventory by using tracking software that is easy to operate and supported by Duncan Industrial IT staff. The firm says its AccountLink software saves money and time by providing secure, real-time access to account information. The software also reviews orders and purchasing history, requests quotes, and generates purchasing reports using almost any set of parameters.

Electronic Data Interchange allows computer-to-computer data exchanges, such as P.O.s, invoices, and fund transfers, with minimal human intervention. In addition, bar coding allows fast and accurate inventory tracking and supply chain management. Bar coding also increases the speed of supply check-in, provides reliable data about materials use, and enables automatic reordering for items used and replaced regularly. The result is a significant reduction in the amount of time and paper devoted to everyday requisitioning tasks.

Company keeps other firms industrial supplies and tools well stocked

Resources and supplier partnerships from Wesco let it source most major T&D manufacturers and products. In addition, the company has resources dedicated to implementing and managing sources and procurement requirements. The company evaluates client utility inventory and materials management needs, and then designs and implements a service plan to keep the inventory at useful levels, so users gain maximum cost efficiency without waiting on critical supplies. Materials management capabilities include inventory maintenance, pallet maintenance, job-site delivery, job-site trailers, bin-stock replenishment, kitting, and subcomponent assembly. Wesco also customizes client logistics support – whether shipments are going to the storeroom, jobsite, yard, or a job trailer – so products will be there when needed.

In addition to around-the-clock emergency support 365 days a year, the company provides outbound transportation, redistribution, and backhaul services. The company has developed seamless processes that let it efficiently and cost-effectively manage client supply chains. A performance-driven process is tracked daily through the use of numerous metrics, including shipments by location, total shipments, customer inventory, inventory trends, on-time delivery, on-time acknowledgments, order accuracy, invoice accuracy, and management of subcontractors.