Booster Pumps & Boosters for People – Run to Failure?

A liquids pipeline often uses booster pumps to provide necessary pressure to move product from a tank into a pump on the pipeline.  These booster pumps are generally reliable, but do not last forever.  It is necessary to have a spare booster pump on hand, for when the booster pump in use fails.  Most pipeline operations run the pump to failure and then install the spare.  The pump that failed is then repaired, and becomes the spare.  One can question a maintenance philosophy that runs equipment until it fails, but it is a common philosophy.   A booster pump may run for several years before the motor or other component fails.  The key is to have a spare booster pump always on hand.   A decision one has to make is how many spares to have on hand.   Is one enough, or should they be more? (more…)

Posted July 17th, 2009 in Human Factors, Managing Fatigue, Operational Excellence

Going in All Directions; Is That Possible?

The slip from the fortune cookie read, “One cannot go in all directions at once.”  That statement is literally true.  But we can change directions quickly and often, zigzagging from one step to the next one.  What can I learn from the fortune cookie?   Maybe I should do one task until I finish it, then do the next task.   One of my friends said the other day that summer is difficult because she needs more structure.  She lacks the direction that is available or forced on her during the school year.

One lesson for me is to choose my direction purposefully in order to do the most important things first.  Another is to remember that, even if I am going in one RIGHT direction, there will be distractions along the way.   Therefore, another lesson is to keep my focus on the final destination and to avoid wasting my limited abilities on attractive detours.

Something I want to think about now is what happens if someone or some thing wants me to change directions.  It is at those times that people make mistakes because their attention is divided between several stimuli.   It is those moments of choice that could cause errors and accidents.  I’ll write more on this subject, since I sense a change of direction now.

Posted July 17th, 2009 in Human Factors, Observations

Meeting the Challenge of Excellence – Introduction

This book is a work in progress, since 2005. Look under “Excellence Book” for more entries.  One of my 2009 goals is to complete the book by October 1, 2009

Mediocrity is going to kill the world before Armageddon ever does. Emmy Lou Harris

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Posted July 10th, 2009 in Excellence Book