Maintenance, Repair and Operations Feature Library

Operations Engineer's library catalogues editorial features going back five years.

Access to all archive material is free to all, including non-members of IPlantE (the Institution of Operations Engineers) or BES (Bureau of Engineer Surveyors), under the umbrella of SOE (Society of Operations Engineers). However, to discover the many benefits of becoming an SOE member, please click here.

18/07/2022 Minding the store The trend of appointing third-party MRO service providers is gathering pace with the promise of cost savings and the reassignment of resources to core activities » Read More

19/04/2022 Auditing and standardising inventory The benefit of a spare parts strategy has as much to do with accurate and efficient records – clean data – as it does with the parts themselves. By David Thompson, MRO spares parts specialist, Ramsoft » Read More

05/10/2021 Tracking carbon in construction product manufacturing At the Energy Management Exhibition (24-25 November), SOE is presenting a panel discussion on reducing energy consumption. It features members working across industry. Also speaking is Matthew Jenkinson, Tarmac Alfreton senior site ... » Read More

16/09/2021 Pump retrofit beyond the bearing housing Sulzer examines pump retrofit options outside of the bearing housing for single-stage overhung pumps to improve reliability and reduce operating costs » Read More

10/12/2020 Step change at Blackpool Tower Blackpool Tower’s 126-year-old external staircase is to be removed as part of a wider renovation project. A decision on how the staircase will be replaced is being evaluated. By Brian Wall » Read More

12/11/2020 Repair and the circular economy An EU research project aims to lead the way in the reuse and recycling of industrial equipment. By Toby Clark » Read More

12/11/2020 Inefficient pump: fix or replace? Weighing the factors involved in this decision involves considering the wider process and supply chain context. By Steed Webzell » Read More

27/07/2020 Object deconstruction Operations Engineer explores the basic principles of the reverse engineering technique and how it can be carried out » Read More

16/03/2020 Manchester makeover Atlas Copco has recently upgraded compressed air and vacuum systems for Manchester-based brick maker Wienerberger, resulting in energy cost savings, along with reduced CO2 emissions and production downtime » Read More

05/08/2019 What if… There are many different uses for virtual reality technology in industrial settings. Redesigning existing facilities, as well as imagining future industrial plants, is one of them » Read More

07/03/2019 Printing up performance Additive manufacturing (AM) technologies offer a wide range of benefits for short run products, prototyping and high-end superalloy components. Now, having built a foothold in niche products, AM is set to break out of its traditional mould » Read More

04/01/2019 Comment: Site to factory Volvo and Skanska’s project to electrify and automate operations in a Swedish quarry is profiled this month. It’s not the first such project for Volvo, which has tested self-driving mine trucks in Norway and South Africa, at least. This ... » Read More

26/08/2017 Factories get smarter Many companies are now harnessing the benefits of digitalisation and will rely on smart factories in the future. However, the required budget is not always available or, due to short production cycles, complete machinery replacement is ... » Read More

11/02/2013 Maintenance expo With Maintec 2013 just a few short weeks away, Brian Tinham previews this show, specifically designed for maintenance technicians and engineering managers » Read More

06/12/2012 Making MRO matter Surprising as it may seem, some plants and factories may be expending too much of their maintenance effort in the wrong direction. Brian Wall reports » Read More

05/10/2012 Thwaites green upgrade is picture of efficiency Yellow dump truck manufacturer Thwaites' paint line has been refurbished – and improved its efficiency and environmental sustainability on the way. » Read More

08/06/2012 Science of decommissioning Difficult economic conditions are impacting process plants, leading to redundant assets and a requirement for decommissioning. Richard Vann looks at the issues » Read More

07/12/2011 Adding value Talk to Lean specialists and, surprisingly, they'll tell you the real deal in equipment service is not planned, nor even preventive maintenance. Brian Tinham talks to Dennis McCarthy about how transform engineering » Read More

06/10/2011 On a hire plane When it comes to obtaining new equipment, plant engineers might want to consider renting before – or even instead of – committing to that cost. Brian Wall looks at the cost benefits » Read More

09/02/2011 No Crystal Ball A wide range of tools and techniques is now available to ease the task of predicting when and what maintenance is required on machines and plant units. Steed Webzell reports » Read More

09/12/2010 Making it better Renovating or refurbishing major plant can be more complicated than some realise. Dr Tom Shelley walks us through some the key processes and issues » Read More

01/01/2010 When old meets new When it comes to refurbishing plant, it makes a lot of sense to consider its operating conditions today, not just those when it was installed. Brian Tinham takes sound engineering advice from David Bates » Read More

01/12/2008 Plant life matters Although the cost of components - such as rolling element bearings, rotors and fasteners - in hydraulic pumps is usually very small, compared to the list price of the pumps themselves, the cost of stopped production and any consequential ... » Read More