New Articles

Hiring a Reliability Consultant: 4 Important Things to Consider

Hiring a Reliability Consultant

Hiring a Reliability Consultant: 4 Important Things to Consider

Reliability is a critical factor in the success of any industrial operation. Downtime can negatively affect the productivity and profitability of a company. A reliable industrial operation is one that is able to maintain consistent output, even in the face of unexpected obstacles. 

It is often considered as a key performance indicator (KPI) of an organization’s asset management system. The goal of achieving high industrial reliability is to minimize the risk of equipment failures and unplanned downtime.

There are many factors that contribute to industrial reliability, from the quality of the equipment to the skill of the operators. But one of the most important is maintenance management. However, in this article, we will share some ideas on how you can hire a reliability consultant.

Who Is Reliability Consultant? 

An industrial reliability consultant is a professional who helps organizations improve their operations and processes through the use of reliability engineering principles.

Reliability consultants typically have experience in a wide range of industries and businesses, and they use this knowledge to help their clients identify areas where they can improve their own operations.

Reliability consulting can be an extremely valuable resource for organizations that are looking to improve their overall performance. By working with a consultant, organizations can get an expert opinion on what changes need to be made in order to achieve better results.

In addition, consultants can provide guidance, reliability training and support throughout the implementation process, helping to ensure that the changes are made effectively and efficiently. 

Organizations that are interested in improving their reliability should consider working with an experienced consultant. By doing so, they can gain insights into best practices for reliability improvement and receive support during the implementation process.

In addition, by providing training on new procedures, they can help employees become more efficient and knowledgeable about the production process.

How Reliability Consultants Help in Industrial Maintenance

An industrial reliability consultant can help your business in a number of ways when it comes to industrial maintenance. They can help in industrial maintenance by providing analysis and recommendations to improve equipment reliability.

For one, a consultant can help you develop a maintenance management plan. This plan will take into account all of the factors that contribute to downtime in your facility, including equipment failures, human error, and environmental conditions. By understanding the root cause of these problems, you can develop strategies to prevent them from happening in the first place.

They also develop and implement preventative maintenance programs to improve equipment uptime. In addition, they work with other departments within the company to ensure that maintenance activities are properly coordinated. This may include recommendations for preventive maintenance, which can help avoid costly downtime and repairs.

In addition, a reliability consultant can also help you troubleshoot problems that occur. By identifying issues quickly and efficiently, you can avoid costly downtime and keep your operation running smoothly. 

Finally, a consultant can also provide training for your staff on best practices for maintenance and repair.

What to Consider When You Hire a Reliability Consultant

When you are looking to improve the reliability of your organization, you may consider hiring a reliability consultant. Here are a few things to keep in mind when you are making this decision:

1. Coursework and Certifications

When you are thinking about hiring a reliability consultant, there are several things that you should keep in mind. The first is previous coursework and certifications. It is important to make sure that the consultant you are considering has the necessary education and training in the field of reliability engineering. Additionally, they should also have experience working with other businesses in your industry.  This would ensure that they understand your industry-specific needs.

2. Leadership Skills

When it comes to finding and hiring a reliability consultant, it is important to consider leadership skills. Here are a few tips on how to identify and assess leadership skills in a potential consultant:

  • Look for evidence of strong leadership qualities in the consultant’s past work experience. This may include instances of successful project management, team building, or conflict resolution.
  • Ask the consultant for specific examples of instances where they used their leadership skills to achieve success. This will help you get a better sense of their true capabilities.
  • Pay attention to the consultant’s communication style and overall demeanor during your interactions with them. Do they come across as confident and competent? Do they seem able to handle difficult situations calmly and effectively?

By keeping these factors in mind, you can be sure to find a reliability consultant with the strong leadership skills you need for your organization.

3. In-depth Knowledge of Industrial maintenance

You need to make sure the consultant has a deep understanding of industrial maintenance when hiring one. This includes a thorough plant management expertise that would promote overall reliability.  The consultant should also be up-to-date on the latest industry standards and practices.

Another important thing to consider is the consultant’s ability to communicate effectively with both management and frontline workers. The consultant should be able to explain complex technical concepts in plain language. They should also be able to listen to feedback and incorporate it into their recommendations.

4. Tech-Savvy Aptitudes

In the 21st century, a reliability consultant should have technology skills and knowledge to help your business stay ahead of the curve. Here are three tips on how to hire a reliability consultant with tech-savvy aptitudes:

  • Look for a consultant who is up-to-date on technology trends: A reliable consultant should be able to keep up with the latest technology advancements and understand how they can be applied to your business.
  • Choose a consultant who has experience implementing new technologies: A good way to gauge a potential consultant’s tech-savvy abilities is by asking about past projects where they’ve successfully implemented new technologies.
  • Ask for recommendations from other businesses in your industry: If you know other businesses that have hired reliability consultants, ask them for recommendations on who you should contact.

Conclusion

When considering hiring a reliability consultant, it is important to keep in mind the company’s needs and objectives, the consultant’s qualifications and experience, and the cost. With careful consideration, hiring a reliability consultant can be a valuable investment for any business. They can help take your business from where it is to what it can be and help cut down costs, prioritize your goals, streamline operations.

Industrial Sensors

Three Key Aspects that will Influence the Demand for Industrial Sensors by 2027

Large-scale adoption of industrial robots across manufacturing & processing industries is expected to offer a considerable push to the industrial sensor market outlook. According to the International Federation of Robotics, around 2 million industrial robots are expected to be utilized across factories worldwide by 2022. Robotic Process Automation (RPA) technology in the manufacturing sector, as well as automation equipment such as HMI (human-machine interface) and PLC (programmable logic controllers) in assembly and production lines heavily, rely on industrial sensors.

The demand for such automation equipment may accelerate supported by favorable government initiatives designed to advocate the acceptance of industrial automation in the food & beverage sector. In March 2021, the Government of Australia announced an investment of USD 993 million to support the region’s F&B manufacturers under its MMI (Modern Manufacturing Initiative) scheme.

Projections from a report published by Global Market Insights, Inc., suggest that the industrial sensors market is expected to surpass USD 30 billion by 2027. Although, it is vital to note that the shortage of raw materials & components due to imposed COVID-19 restrictions have severely impacted the industrial sensors market growth in mid-2020. The shift of existing manufacturing facilities to new regions due to political and business obstacles might hinder the market growth during the pandemic.

Here are some of the trends to look for in the industrial sensors market until 2027:

Force Sensors Witnessing High Demand

Industrial IoT is steadily extending its reach across the pharmaceutical, food & beverage, chemical, and oil & gas sector. As a vital component in industrial IoT, industrial sensors are used to detect, measure, and analyze parameters such as level, temperature, pressure, force, and position, among others. Reports indicate that the force sensor segment held a market share of around 8% in 2020.

Force sensors are used to measure various physical parameters such as torque, mass, and weight of an object in the industrial sector. These sensors are commonly used in counting scales, hopper scales, bench scales, platform scales, truck scales, and belt scales. Force sensors have high capabilities to monitor the load and prevent industrial machinery from overloading and find application in force exertion control and industrial test benches in industrial robotics.

Demand Across the European Pharmaceutical Sector

Europe is home to some of the world’s leading pharmaceutical manufacturers such as AstraZeneca, Novo Nordisk, and Pfizer, Inc., among others. These companies are currently emphasizing on the mass production of vaccines and novel drugs. Certain equipment used in the medical industry are integrated with force sensors for fluid monitoring applications, endoscopic surgery, dialysis machines, physical therapy equipment, orthopedics and MRI devices.

Pharmaceutical companies in the region are extensively focusing on new research & development activities, increasing the adoption of industrial sensors. High-volume manufacturing and large-scale investments in the pharmaceutical sector will devise new opportunities for industrial sensor manufacturers in Europe. As per estimates, the industrial sensors of Europe is anticipated to register 7% CAGR from 2021 to 2027.

Use of Gas Sensors in Mining Application

The demand for industrial sensors such as gas sensors is escalating in mining & exploration activities. Generally, industrial gas sensors are used undermining conditions to monitor safety parameters to safeguard miners from toxic & flammable gases. Linking sensors with IoT systems will help mining companies to extract real-time & exact data about the temperature, pressure, and gases in the mines. The mining application segment held a 7% market share in 2020 and is projected to grow at 8% CAGR by 2027.

Source: https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/industrial-sensors-market

HVAC

Three Major Trends Driving HVAC Fan and Evaporator Coil Market Share by 2026

The HVAC fan and evaporator coil market is expected to gain momentum over the coming years on account of improving the standard of living and increased spending on heating and cooling appliances. Rapid urbanization and industrialization across emerging economies could drive the demand for high-quality HVAC systems.

HVAC fan and evaporator coils are in demand in the residential, commercial and industrial sectors. Generally, residential air conditioner systems are portable and smaller compared to industrial and commercial systems. With heightening significance in the residential sector, reports estimate that the HVAC fan and evaporator coils may reach USD 1.7 billion by 2026. This growth can be ascribed to factors like an increase in urbanization and population growth, especially in the Middle East and Asia.

Global Market Insights, Inc., suggests that the global HVAC fan & evaporator coil market may record over USD 9.6 billion by 2026. Escalating concerns over indoor air quality and ventilation across industrial settings could encourage HVAC fan and evaporator coil manufacturers to develop new products and solutions. In 2020, industrial ventilation solutions manufacturer, Markair Inc., designed two high-performance air pollution control systems for Silica Grinding and Zinc Thermal Spray processes for a Florida-based electrical components producer.

Mentioned below are some of the key trends driving HVAC fan and evaporator coil market expansion:

Europe emerging as a lucrative business ground

The European HVAC fan & evaporator coil market is expected to account for over 20% of the global market share by 2026, with over 4% CAGR. The region is one of the early adopters of air conditioning systems. With stern environmental norms and an incremental increase in demand for eco-friendly heating and cooling solutions, the demand for energy-efficient HVAC systems could grow a steady rate across Europe, positively influencing fan and evaporator coil suppliers and manufacturers.

Rising aftermarket sales

Compared to the residential sector, the demand for aftermarket HVAC parts are relatively higher in the industrial and commercial sectors. In the residential sector, it is less costly and easier to change the whole air conditioning system as they are smaller and less expensive.

However, the costs to replace systems parts is relatively higher in the commercial and industrial sectors as these systems are bulky and complex. Given potential growth prospects in the industrial and commercial sector, it is estimated that the aftermarket segment could record a CAGR of more than 4.5% in the upcoming years.

Growing demand for HVAC fan coils

The demand for HVAC fan coils is anticipated to increase at a substantial rate as a result of robust growth in the residential and commercial construction industry of the Middle East and Africa (MEA). The tourism sector, as well as commercial construction, is growing rapidly in the Middle East. Africa is also experiencing a considerable rise in population and residential construction activities, which may boost the demand for HVAC fan coils in the region.

Source: Global Market Insights, Inc.