Plant Engineering articles from April 2004

Plant Engineering archives from April 2004

Skilled worker shortage.(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2004... Your January 2004 issue highlighted the shortage of skilled maintenance technicians and strategies to overcome the problem. All plant managers must recognize that the technicians are the critical people who make a manufacturing plant a...

Money winners.(Reader Feedback)
April 1, 2004... The following readers won a $100 gift cheque from American Express in a random drawing of Product of the Year ballots received on or before Dec. 15, 2003. Luis Alomia Maint. Supverisor Okeelanta Corp. South Bay FL Brian...

Human side smoke-free policy at the plant.(Reader Feedback)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... I just finished reading Raymond Dreyfack's discussion about a smoke-free policy in the February 2004 issue of Plant Engineering. I strongly disagree with Mr. Dreyfack's conclusion that adequate accommodations were provided to the imaginary...

Inflation expected for operating materials and supplies.(Letter to the Editor)
April 1, 2004... Plant engineers can expect a steady dose of inflation for operating materials and supplies in 2003. Upward price pressures are strong for 13 industries. The key to the price outlook lies in our understanding of the underlying cost and...

The quest.(Comment)
April 1, 2004... There's something in human nature that pushes us to always want to know about the best. From the "Car of the Year" to the Oscars, from Consumer Reports to the Fortune 500, we just keep feeding this insatiable appetite for rating things. The...

Supervisory instinct and experience: are they enough to shorten a trial period?(Human Side)
April 1, 2004... The company's lab and production departments used several complex and unusual instruments for measurement and other purposes. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When an opening for Instrument Specialist Trainee occurred, Maintenance Manager Jack...

Union bulletin board: can it be used for propaganda purposes?(Human Side)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Ahandful of workers were going all out in trying to pressure management for increased pay and better working conditions. Shop Steward Gary Crowell was especially militant in attempting to influence the executive committee to yield to union...

Can an ex-group leader bump back to his old job?(Human Side)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Joe Brick, a group leader in the maintenance department, had an excellent work record. One day three years ago Maintenance Manager Frank Middleton approached him with the news that a foreman's job was about to open up. "It's yours if you...

Is 'pretty safe' safe enough?(Human Side)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... When the company was fined by the Occupational and Safety Health Agency for violation of safety regulations Plant Manager George Bisset called a meeting to ensure employees that rules would be strictly enforced in the future. A few weeks...

When must "eyes only" information be revealed?(Human Side)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Maintenance Department Mechanic Grade II, Pedro Servito filed a discrimination charge against the company. He believed management was prejudiced against Latinos in its hiring and promotion practices. For one thing, a disproportionate number...

Is threatening a supervisor cause for dismissal?(Human Side)
April 1, 2004... Maintenance Mechanic Charley Rose was an aggressively loud and rambunctious individual, the kind of employee who considered it a triumph if he could put one over on the boss. One day while on a rush assignment in Production, Maintenance...

Is termination incentive a viable option?(Human Side)
April 1, 2004... Sometimes terminating an undesirable worker isn't as simple as it may seem. This applies doubly if the person on the chopping block is a supervisor. While Head Setup Man George Shane was technically competent, the four employees he...

Does employee have a right to go home?(Human Side)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Electrician Grade II Jeff Myers had worked two days on a wiring job in the lab when Maintenance Foreman Lou Gorson instructed him to "hold off on what he was doing" because the lab director had decided that "changes had to be worked out." ...

Can pregnancy ever be considered a dischargeable offense?(Human Side)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... When Jane Lewis opted for early retirement, Peggy Conrad was hired to fill the key spot of Stockroom Attendant in the maintenance department. At the employment interview, before finalizing Conrad's acceptance, she was asked if she knew of...

Stopping uncertainties from wreaking havoc on maintenance projects.(Management Side)
April 1, 2004... In many ways, the traditional CMMS or EAM system works somewhat like a computerized PERT chart. It is based on traditional methodology, which asks you to identify the tasks that need to be done and determine how long the tasks should take to...

Understanding GFCIs.(Plant Electronics)(ground fault circuit interrupter)
April 1, 2004... Advancements in electrical safety occur continuously. New products make the use of electricity safer every year. Some devices are ubiquitous but their function may not be fully appreciated. One of the most common devices in residential,...

Basics of power management equipment.(Electrical)(Cover Story)
April 1, 2004... KEY CONCEPTS * Power monitoring reveals your power system's characteristics. * Power quality data are analyzed by comparisons among parameters, locations, or surveys. * Good power management decisions require accurate measurements...

Using ultrasonics in predictive maintenance.(Predictive Maintenance/Tools)
April 1, 2004... KEY CONCEPTS * A good predictive maintenance program can prevent unexpected failures, downtime, and waste. * Ultrasonic technology provides an efficient and cost effective method for monitoring critical equipment. * Frequent...

Selecting space heaters.(HVAC Heating)
April 1, 2004... KEY CONCEPTS * Determine all heating and ventilating needs for the building. * Total cost = equipment cost + installation cost + operating cost + impact cost. * High energy costs are a key factor in space heater selection and...

Controlling leaks and spills requires preparedness.(Environmental)
April 1, 2004... KEY CONCEPTS * It is important to identify areas where spills can occur and store supplies nearby. * Facility response plans must be "living documents" and contain up-to-date information. * Teamwork is essential for spill control...

Using CAD templates to save time, money.(computer-aided design)
April 1, 2004... KEY CONCEPTS * CAD templates are available in online libraries, on manufacturers' web sites, and on CD-ROMs. * A CAD template can be viewed from all angles, and may be used in any major CAD modeling program. * Manufacturers that...

2003 product of the year winners.(Special Report)
April 1, 2004... The readers held all the decision-making power in the 2003 Product of the Year competition and cast their votes. After carefully reviewing 150 finalists in the November issue, they selected the 248 medium-strength threadlocker stick as the...

2003 Shingo Prize winners: Shingo Prizes recognize manufacturing excellence.(Special Report)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... The Shingo Prize promotes awareness of lean manufacturing concepts and recognizes companies that achieve world-class manufacturing status. It is named for Dr. Shigeo Shingo a leading expert in improving manufacturing processes. The prize is...

Outdoor lighting.(Products)
April 1, 2004... Floodpak is an outdoor lighting fixture that features three fixtures in one with three different lighting distributions including flood, cutoff, and forward throw. Fixture can be used as a cutoff wall pack, tilted 22 deg for semicutoff, or...

HID ballast.(Products)(High Intensity Discharge)
April 1, 2004... e-Vision line of electronic HID ballasts has been expanded to accommodate the 100W Mini whiteSON lamp. Ballasts offer versatility and design flexibility for developing streamlined and aesthetically pleasing lighting systems. Available with side...

Control panel.(Products)
April 1, 2004... LP8 lighting control panel is preassembled, easy to install, and offers effective, economical automated control for small exterior and interior lighting control applications. Panel features UL-listed panel package complete with relays, system...

Lighting streamer.(Products)
April 1, 2004... Enviro-Light 753 vapor-proof lighting streamer delivers reliable illumination for a wide range of worksites including factory assembly areas, plants, and rugged work environments and features watertight construction that eliminates problems...

A seal deal.(Suggestions)
April 1, 2004... Integrated Cartridge Program was developed to improve sealing methods for ANSI, process, and general-service pumps by offering users a cohesive line of high-quality, interchangeable, cartridge seals. The program allows users to: purchase...

Stop pump spills.(Products)
April 1, 2004... Spill-STOP is designed to prevent spills caused by diaphragm failure in air-operated diaphragm pumps. It features a patented design that captures leaked product caused by a ruptured diaphragm and pneumatically shuts off the pump automatically....

Pump saves space.(Products)
April 1, 2004... Model 3196 CC is a close-coupled version of model 3196 ANSI process pump and is designed for general industrial service where space is limited or the cost of a frame-mounted pump is prohibitive. While the pump is not designed to meet ANSI B...

High-pressure steam traps.(Products)
April 1, 2004... SH Trap Series are designed for exceptional performance in severe high-pressure/temperature superheat applications. They can be used at pressures up to 1500 psi and temperatures to 1050 F. The traps are maintainable due to easily accessible...

Monitor pipe corrosion.(Products)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... CorrView is a simple, low-cost, self-contained device in the form of a hex head pipe plug. It threads directly into any water piping system and produces a brilliant color change, from white to fluorescent orange, after a predefined amount of...

Root cause analysis.(Events)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... The Electrical Apparatus Service Association (EASA) offers its "Root cause failure analysis" seminar May 7-8, 2004 in Las Vegas, NV. Seminar explores the cause of motor failures from the most common to the unusual. Contact EASA at 314-993-2220....

Variable frequency drive seminar.(Events)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... National Technology Transfer, Inc. is holding its "Variable frequency drives" seminar on the following dates at the following locations: Boston, MA, May 4-6 Hartford, CT, May 11-13 JFK airport, NY, May 18-20 Philadelphia, PA,...

Relay conference.(Events)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Megger is holding its 2004 Relay Conference in Dallas, TX, June 13-16, 2004. The conference contains presentations, informal discussions, hands-on training workshops, product expo, and evening receptions. Contact Megger at 800-723-2861,...

Overcurrent protection seminars.(Events)
April 1, 2004... Cooper Bussman will present its "Overcurrent protection of industrial machinery" seminars May 5-7, 2004, and August 25-27, 2004, at its Gubany Center in St. Louis, MO. Seminars highlight overcurrent protection considerations for industrial...

Electrical grounding.(Events)
April 1, 2004... The University of Wisconsin in Madison will hold its "Grounding of electrical distribution systems" training course May 12-14 in Madison, WI. Course features instruction on the theory, practice, and design of electrical grounding systems. Call...

Safe table saw.(Products; from SawStop L.L.C.)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... SawStop technology detects accidental contact between a person and the blade of a power saw, and then reacts to minimize injury. The detection system recognizes the difference between the electrical properties of wood and a person. Detecting...

Cut any size vessel.(Products; from ESCO Tool)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... APS-438 Air-Powered Saw and flexible track system easily mounts onto vessels, tanks, and any other flat or curved surface and ensures perfectly square cuts. A mounting trolley, that glides along the track, attaches by tack welds onto any size...

Weld wire selection guide.(Literature' from Lincoln Electric Co.)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Outershield Wires Product Catalog describes an extensive line of gas-shielded, flux-cored, and metal-cored weld wires. In the front of the catalog is a selection guide so operators can quickly and easily find a wire type that meets their...

Clean, cool catalog.(Literature; from Exair Corp.)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... A 112-p, full-color technical guide offers solutions to common industrial cleaning, cooling, conveying, drying, blowoff, and static electricity problems. Compressed air products for conveying, cabinet cooling, and static elimination are...

Plasma cutting guide.(Literature; from Miller Electric Manufacturing Co.)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... A free Plasma Cutting Buyer's Guide explains the air plasma cutting process, its benefits over oxy-fuel and mechanical cuttings methods, and typical applications. The guide explains features to look for in a plasma cutter (cutting capabilities,...

IR cameras.(Products; from Infrared Solutions Inc.)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... FlexCam series of upgradeable infrared (IR) cameras are designed to perform fast, accurate thermal scans for applications that include predictive maintenance (PdM) and condition monitoring of plant equipment and electrical systems, roof...

Heat trace alarms.(Products; from Chromalox Inc.)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Sentinel monitoring alarm option continually monitors supply voltage to each heat trace circuit. Voltage loss or ground fault triggers an automatic alarm condition, alerting plant personnel of critical process problems. Chromalox, Inc. ...

Imaging thermometer.(Products; from Omega Engineering Inc.)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... OS-XL 2-dimensional infrared thermometer equipped with a 64-element thermopile array that allows users to view and verify the measurement object on the LCD screen while simultaneously measuring its temperature. Unit can display and save data...

Block I/O.(Products; from Phoenix Contact Inc.)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... Inline Block I/O modules include 16 and 32-channel digital block modules and are compatible with fieldbus protocols including Interbus, Profibus DP, DeviceNet, and CANOpen. Sensor and actuator cables can be connected without tools. Modules...

Wrench jack.(Solutions)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... PROBLEM: A section of pipe, in a cramped space, must be removed. There is no room for two hands or a pipe cheater. How can enough leverage be put on the pipe wrench to break the pipe free? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SOLUTION: Place a car...

Tach in time.(Tachometer)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... PROBLEM: A critical motor tachometer coupling has failed and a replacement is not immediately available. How can the tachometer be put back in service until proper repairs can be made? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SOLUTION: Find a piece of...

Can tote.(Solutions)(Brief Article)
April 1, 2004... PROBLEM: Cans of paint, lubricant, and solvent must be carried to a job in a toolbox. How can the cans and tools be transported without everything falling over and getting mixed up? [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] SOLUTION: Rig a toolbox with a...