The answer to this question appears at the end of this newsletter.


Reducing Repair Variability
In the typical plant, operators develop preferences for who handles their repairs. Although it's true that people aren't interchangeable parts, it's also true that repair techs should provide a level of service that isn't markedly different from tech to tech. Operators should feel comfortable and confident with any tech. If they don't, then petty complaints and phantom problems will undermine your maintenance and repair efforts.

Here are some tips to keep in mind when developing your team players:

• Develop standardized troubleshooting procedures, based on best practices. Find out what works best on specific equipment, document that, and train everyone in those procedures.
• Train on interpersonal skills. People's emotions definitely color their perception of reality, and how the repair tech speaks to them influences their emotions. Yet, the typical maintenance organization doesn't train its techs on how to interact in a manner that leaves operators feeling respected and confident that they are being taken care of.
• Train on interview skills. The hardest part of the job for some techs is getting an accurate description of the problem from the operators. Some people seem gifted at this, while others beat their heads in frustration. It's a learned skill, so ensure everyone is taught it.

Sometimes, a motor can be continuous duty but just not in all modes of operation. An example would be a batch tank impeller motor. When in mix mode, the motor runs continuously. But in batch storage mode, perhaps the motor runs intermittently. So, which way do you classify the motor? When confronted with such a question, see the Note in Table 430.22(E).


Safety
Look carefully at your safety manual. Often, such manuals are filled with legalese and OSHA excerpts. They are often bulked out with information, such as administrative procedures, of no relevance whatsoever to the intended user. For safety manuals to be of any real value, they need to be in plain language and apply directly to the work and circumstance of their intended users.


Quiz Answer
Answer to Electrical Troubleshooting Quiz
The motor isn't cooling properly. You should use a thermal imaging camera to inspect the temperature profile. If this problem is fairly recent, ask, "What has changed?" However, what hasn't been changed is sometimes the problem. On a production line, a motor is often tucked into a tight place and has cooling air supplied to it via filtered ducts. Check the air filter(s).