Back to the Future

Distance learning offers many advantages for reliability program training

Today's global economy and complex processes make continued education more important than ever. Personnel with the right training in technology and practices can make an organization more efficient and successful. However, the cost, learning retention rate and overall effectiveness of classroom-style training have led many organizations to reduce or eliminate training from their budgets. Employee education has not been lowered on their list of priorities, but traditional training styles have led them to look for alternatives - including online training.

Online training with interactive learning is a good alternative learning method, not to mention extremely cost effective. The semester-style approach combines a live instructor via web cam with electronic presentation tools to cover the material in 90- to 120-minute sessions. A typical 40-hour class is scheduled over 15 weeks and includes two live sessions per week, one interactive lab per week and a mid-semester break. All sessions are recorded for review or if a student misses a class. The instructor can monitor the participation level of each student with tools to track the active window on their individual computers.

Course descriptions, session information, schedules and registration are completely electronic. Students can view the subject material and register online without interaction with the training vendor. Classes can be private and customized for an individual corporation's needs, potentially teaching many students from many sites worldwide at the same time. Short courses and subject matter "featurettes" can also be provided through this media.

The Predictive Service Institute now offers live, online reliability training, including all levels of vibration and infrared certification. View the complete course listing at www.predictiveservice.com/institute/.

Nice Catch

Visual Inspection Uncovers Dangerous Electrical Wiring

After many years in use, infrared inspections have more than proven their worth to quickly, accurately and safely locate problems prior to equipment failure. But, infrared alone might not reveal all issues. That was the case at one 240,000-squre-foot office building in Texas.

Predictive Service Thermographer Wes McGonagle was performing an infrared inspection at the 20-year old office building. The infrared inspection revealed some issues, but nothing out of the ordinary. However, a visual inspection uncovered a potentially serious issue that was not evident using infrared technology.

McGonagle discovered a three-phase electrical circuit that fed a motor load that was wired in violation of applicable electrical codes. Among several violations, green and white wires were electrically hot, which they should not have been.

"It could have been a dangerous situation for an electrician working on the circuit because they would not expect those wires to be electrically hot," said Terry Miller, contract manger, Predictive Service.

Miller added that the improper wiring could have also damaged equipment." This was a good catch because the thermographer was attentive and knowledgeable. About 80 percent of the time during infrared inspections we spot non-thermal issues through visual inspections, which is why it's so important to have an experienced thermographer," he said.


The three-phase circuit was wired at the breaker with red, black and green wires. The green wire was not used as a grounding conductor, which it should have been.
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Further along the circuit, within the enclosure, a white wire was tapped off the green wire from the breaker and not used for a neutral conductor as it should have been.
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Predictive Service Opens Office in Hong Kong

Predictive Service has solidified its presence in Asia with the opening of an office in Hong Kong. The new office in the heart of Asia enhances Predictive Service’s ability to provide dedicated support and services to organizations in the rapidly developing Asian market.

"Our business has substantially grown in Asia and the demand for our services is significant. The new Hong Kong office gives us dedicated operations that are closer to our Asian client base, making it easier to better serve them in keeping their operations running safely and efficiently," said Don Frankel, president, Predictive Service.

Predictive Service currently offers service in more than 50 countries around the world and has offices in Canada, Mexico and now Hong Kong. It has been operating in Asia for more than three years.

The new office will be staffed by up to five employees within the first year. Frankel said he expects that number to quickly expand based on the extensive opportunities for providing managed predictive services in the Asian market.

To contact the Hong Kong office, call +852 8197 1034.