Automation and Operations

Reliability and Maintenance Management

How teams plan, measure and improve equipment reliability.

Asset Criticality Ranking

How plants rank equipment by the consequences of failure, so inspection, spares and maintenance effort go to the machines where they matter most.

4 min read

FMEA in Plain Language

A plain-language look at FMEA: listing how equipment can fail, what each failure causes, and how teams rank the risks to decide what to do first.

4 min read

Maintenance KPIs Such as MTBF and MTTR

What MTBF, MTTR, availability and other common maintenance measures mean, how they are calculated with a hypothetical example, and where they can mislead.

4 min read

Planning a Plant Shutdown or Turnaround

A general overview of how plants plan a shutdown or turnaround: scoping work, scheduling, contractors, safety, restart, and common reasons these events overrun.

4 min read

Root Cause Analysis After a Breakdown

How teams investigate equipment failures in a structured way: preserving evidence, asking why, using simple tools, and avoiding blame and quick conclusions.

4 min read

Vibration Analysis for Rotating Equipment

What vibration readings reveal about motors, pumps, fans and gearboxes, how measurements are taken, and why trends matter more than any single number.

4 min read

What a CMMS Does for a Maintenance Team

A plain explanation of what a computerized maintenance management system does: asset records, work orders, scheduling, parts tracking and reporting.

4 min read

Writing Good Maintenance Work Orders

What a useful maintenance work order records before, during and after a job, with examples of vague versus clear wording and tips for better closeout notes.

4 min read

Related topics

More in automation and operations

Automation and Robotics Control systems, robots, IIoT and conveyors. Maintenance and Repair Keeping equipment running and fixing common faults. Safety and Compliance Safer workspaces, equipment features and regulations. Choosing Equipment Matching equipment to budget, business size and industry. Equipment Performance Efficiency, monitoring and lifespan of running equipment. Automation Technologies PLCs, SCADA, networks, robots and smart factory building blocks. Automation Approaches Reviews, guides and example scenarios for adopting automation. Automation in Process Sectors How automation is applied in chemicals, food, energy and water. Automation in Manufacturing Sectors How automation is applied in vehicles, metals, textiles and other built products. Safety Equipment Protective gear and safety equipment for different industrial hazards. Regulations and Training General guidance on safety rules, chemical handling and worker training. Lean and Quality Lean manufacturing ideas and quality control in production. Predictive Maintenance Condition data and sensing used to predict equipment failures. Maintenance Strategies Preventive, total productive and mixed approaches to keeping plant running. IIoT and AI Connected sensors and artificial intelligence in industrial operations. Automation Fundamentals Core concepts, parts and measurements behind industrial automation. Automation for Efficiency Using automation to streamline plants and raise productivity. Small Business Automation Automation options sized for small workshops and businesses. Equipment and the Business How owning, renting or leasing equipment shapes growth and output. Automation Outlook Where industrial automation came from and where it may be heading. Automation Benefits What automation and connected systems change for processes, energy use and jobs. Robots and Drones How robots and inspection drones have developed and what they do on site. Workplace Health How equipment, noise and layout affect the people who work around them. Industrial Data Analytics Using plant data to support business decisions. Electrical Safety Safety equipment, installation, training and panel repair for industrial electrical systems. Fire and Emergency Readiness Fire suppression and recovery equipment for facilities. Maintenance by Equipment Type Upkeep practices for machinery, pumps, generators, conveyors and harsh conditions. Supply Chain Operations How supply chain management and automation connect plants, suppliers and customers. Quality Control and Automation Equipment, automation and AI used to keep product quality consistent. Equipment Trends Review A look back at equipment, machinery and automation trends around 2023. Industrial Sensors How sensors support process control, quality checks and maintenance. Installation and Commissioning Getting new equipment installed, tested and handed over. Motion Control and Actuators The parts that make machines move precisely: servos, steppers, encoders and actuators.