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01 the Overtooked Criteria
The whole-product-lifecycle approach presented
here encompasses more than basic selection
Jerry Spindler. Endress + Hauser. Inc.
ica] discussions of fl owmet er Considering all aspects of this full
be performed using tools that deter- grate fully with a supplier's order-en- a nd certified t o be NIST traceable.
mine performance based on inputted try system. In some cases, live access New technology. The ISO 17025
conditions. Many different "what-if" via secure account login to the manu- standard a llows manufactUrers to
scenarios can be executed to see how facturer's actual configuration system received accreditation based on s trict
they impact results, and these models can be used to build a complete model calibration procedures, using equip-
can even be used to help make piping structure (Figure 2). With a user ac- ment of the highest perfonnance. The
design decisions very early in the pro- count, once the flowmeter selection and results ar e factory capabilities that
ces.s development. sizing have been completed, the net achieve repeatable calibrations with
Cost implicatioll . By performing a prices can even be seen immediately, uncertainties that were not achiev-
sufficient amount of ana lysis and in- and various models or options can be able even just a few years ago. These
stalling the correct size instrument compared. A group of suppliers have high-precision calibration rigs provide
from the beginning, the time wasted been working with standards commit- premium calibrations that exceed
later reviewing the application and tees to make ISA Specification Sheets, what was previously only available
implementing fixes can be eliminated. and NE100 (ProList) documents avail- from national laboratmies.
Fewer surprises will occur if time is able with product attributes in .xml Co,t implication. With these new
invested initially using readily avail- fonnat to streamline the process of levels of premium calibration now
able tools designed to correctly size generating bid requests on major proj- available from some flowmeter manu-
meters. On the other hand, if fixes ects. This is not just online shopping; facturers, the precision of an instru-
are not made and an improperly sized it is an integrated process for simplify- ment can be held to such tight ranges
meter is left in the process, quality ing the entire purchasing cycle, elimi- that the production processes can
and performance will suffer, adding up nating errors, and taking advantage be further improved to even greater
to losses over the life of the device. of multi-million dollar e-Procurement productivity. To the end user, this
investments already made by ma ny means tighter control, les.s waste a nd
Procurement tools pu rchasing departments. improved product qual ity, which all
Because standard purchasing pro- Co, t implication. Time is money, and tr anslate directly to the bottom line.
cesses h ave been based on manual pa- in this case, the money savings can
penvork in the past, the procurement be significant, considering the hours Proper installation and startup
step is often overlooked. In the last consumed in requesting quotes from Even if the first four steps discussed
ten years, however, there have been vendors, gathering bids, accurately th us far a re followed carefully, it is
major advancements in procurement documenting the devices being consid- all for nothing if the instrument is
systems, including emerging methods ered, comparing various choices and installed poorly. With to<lay's so-
that cut down the hours required to conveying all of this to buyers in order phisticated electronic transmitters,
place orders. This has been driven by to generate the purchase orders. th is goes well beyond the mechani-
the need to reduce internal costs for cal mounting in the pipe. Several
purchasing, cut down on the amount Calibration i.n accredited labs critical parameters in the device
of paper generated, and collaborate Since a flowmeter is purchased sim- programming must be set up prop-
with innovative vendors that have the ply to provide accurate measurement erly to achieve the greatest measure-
e-business capabilities to help buyers data, how good is that investment if ment results. Users demand more
realize areas for cost reductions. the measurement accuracy is ques- capabilities and greater performance
New techllology. Advanced platfonns tionable? A device should have its from their flowmeters, and while this
now extend what was once only avail- calibration perfo rmed on a produc- is achievable, it causes the instru-
able on a powerful enterprise resource tion flow rig that is accredited by a ment design to become more com-
planning (ERP) system to a local CO- third-party agency (the American As- plex. Therefore, greater care must
RaM tool. Such platfonns can inte- sociation of Laboratory Accreditation) be taken in performing the initial
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING WW#.CHE.COM JUNE2009 41
TABLE 1. MAINTENANCE. REPAIR AND OPERATION TOOLS
p
ible pace a nd schedule allows users
to obtain training informatio n easily.
With no travel expenses or time away
from work, employers can allow work-
ers to improve their skills at minimal
R
expense. Working with a supplier tha t
makes use of efficient communication
methods helps users get the immedi-
ate answers needed to help keep op-
erational costs down.
In emergency situations, a quick re-
sponse team is invaluable. By getting
answers needed in a timely manner,
downtime is minimized, production up-
sets are reduced and outp ut (and thus
reve nue) is maximized. The result is
that, ultimately, the flowmeter selected
has provided its greatest possible val ue
- a high return on its investment.
This multi-step process should be
of interest not only to engineers, but
also to purc hasing groups, mainte-
nance technicians, operators, quality
de partments, plant managers and G orman-Rupp has been manutacturing pumps for chemical applications since the 1930·s. They can
even the associated financ ial group. be found in cilemical and petrocilemical planl s. canneries. cOO1mercial laundr~s, pharmaceutical and
Such groups may have influence on aulomotlve planls. WIIetiler )'OUr application requires slandard centrifugal, sell-priming centrifugal,
flowmeter selection that involve a submersible 0/ positive displacement pumps. you'Ufind the right Gorman·Rupp pump for the job.
number of nontraditional elements
that buye rs may overlook. With this
in mind, it is recommended to use
a team approach to ensure t ha t the
vendor selected will meet the expec-
tations of the entire organization.
Economics and operational per-
Autho r
Jerry It. Spindler isa produce.
markclinggroop manager with
End""",+HaUl!er, Ino. (23.'iO
End""", Plare. Groenwood. IN
46143; I'llone: 888-363·7377;
Fax: 3 17· 535·2233; Email:
jeny.l!pindleJ@us.endn>88.oom).
Syindler hill! worked with
End""",+ HaUl!er for 13 )'00111
GRpumps.com
in marketing and product
management, and has worked TH EGORMAN-RUPP COMPANY, Mansfield DjYision
for OV<'r 20)'00" in the inlltru' P.O. Box 1217, Mansl~ld, OH 44901, USA . Pfl: 419JS5.iOll • Fl 419JS5.l2S1
mentation industry. He earned a B.s. in electron·
iCIIllnd mechanical technology from Indiana State Gorlllln·Rupp II In ISO 9OOIJOOO ~llteted company.
University (T!'m! Haute) and rooeived an MBA in
marketing and product management from Indiana
University (Bloomington).
Cirele 34 on p . 56 or go to adlinks.che,com/23015-34
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING WWW.CHE.COM JUNE 2009 43