December 3,2019 | 2 minute read
For anyone tasked with safeguarding operational effectiveness, success can be measured by improving Mean Time Between Repair (MTBR). A sure-fire way to do this? By implementing a Managed Reliability Program, developed specifically for your business using individual plant and production data.
John Crane’s initial concept of a reliability program was developed more than 25 years ago, as a partnership between a mechanical seal provider and some of the biggest businesses in the Oil & Gas industry. The purpose was to collaboratively work together to reduce seal failures. In doing so we were able to improve reliability and production output with less downtime and maintenance costs.
A typical program development for reliability support begins with a comprehensive feasibility study to understand the customer’s individual needs. We measure equipment performance, calculate total cost of ownership and identify opportunities for improvement and cost savings.
When the study is complete we take a look at the results and create a program based on delivering clear long term targets. This helps relieve pressure on maintenance teams by reducing the likelihood of costly and stressful unplanned downtime as demonstrated in the case study below.
In 2012 John Crane supported two customer sites with improvements through a five year Mechanical Seals Reliability Program which included training of the customer’s workforce to increase local knowledge and expertise. By the end of the contract, mean time between repair (MTBR) had increased by 5 percent each year and total cost of ownership (TCO) reduced by 23 percent.
In order to preserve continuity, two full-time onsite John Crane personnel — a reliability engineer and a reliability technician — focused on bad actors maintenance repair and root cause analysis, all while delivering vital training to the customer’s workforce.
You can see the full case study here.
At John Crane our overall goal has always been customer success, achieved by becoming not just another supplier, rather a reliability partner whose goal is to ensure excellent customer relationships and build trust within the industry. If you are interested in finding out how a Managed Reliability Program can be used to improve MTBR contact us to find out more about Mechanical Seals Reliability here.