Reliability In-The Field Insights

Today we are excited to share a new resource for industry professionals: Reliability In-The-Field, a dedicated page packed with actionable insights and expert guidance on asset reliability. This growing collection of over 100 video posts, produced by Stuart Walker and the RMS team, is now available to help engineers, maintenance managers, and asset reliability professionals optimise asset performance, troubleshoot issues, and stay ahead of the curve with industry trends.


Why “Reliability In-The-Field”?

Our goal in creating the collection of Reliability Insights is to help educate industry professionals, enhance asset management practices, and showcase RMS’s dedication to delivering actionable insights. Reliability is at the core of effective asset management, and through these real-world case examples, we provide an easy-to-access knowledge base to support professionals in tackling the complex challenges within their field.

What to Expect on the Page

Reliability In The Field Screenshot

The Reliability In-The-Field page is structured for easy navigation, helping visitors quickly locate insights most relevant to their interests. Videos are organised across three major categories, each offering a different facet of reliability expertise:

  1. Asset Type: Assets vary in function and present specific maintenance challenges. This category offers targeted insights into a range of asset types, from rotating equipment and pumps to HVAC systems. Whether managing machinery critical to manufacturing or environmental systems, users will find content addressing the unique reliability needs of each type. Visitors can learn more about monitoring, assessing, and maintaining each asset effectively, understanding nuances that impact performance and longevity.
  2. Asset Condition: Focusing on diagnosing asset conditions, this category covers topics like resonance, imbalance, and misalignment. Condition-specific videos provide insights into identifying and addressing issues early. Diagnostics and case studies highlight warning signs and optimal technologies for each condition. For example, vibration analysis detects resonance issues and wireless sensors support predictive maintenance on critical assets to prevent costly downtime.
  3. Industry: Each industry faces unique reliability challenges based on environment, operations, and specific machinery. Videos here provide insights that help professionals address sector-specific reliability demands. In manufacturing, energy, water management, or pharmaceuticals, visitors will find content relevant to their conditions and assets, ensuring solutions are both compliant and efficient within their industry’s regulatory and operational contexts.

Insights from Stuart Walker & the RMS Team

Stuart Walker MA RMS

Stuart Walker has been a consistent source of reliability insights across social channels, especially on YouTube and LinkedIn, over the past ten years. His expertise has helped thousands of professionals access the knowledge needed to understand and address complex asset issues. As Stuart continues to build the ‘Reliability In-The-Field’ offering, RMS will also bring in contributions from other team members, ensuring a continually growing pool of expert content.

Featured Examples: Real-World Applications

Reliability In-The-Field includes a wide range of posts, from introductory topics to deep-dive technical analysis. Here are some examples of the content you can expect:

These examples illustrate the diverse array of reliability issues and solutions covered on the page, allowing visitors to learn from real-world scenarios that mirror the challenges they face daily.

Built for Continuous Learning

RMS Petrochemical Industry

As the reliability landscape evolves, so too will our content. Reliability In-The-Field will be regularly updated, not only with new insights from Stuart Walker but also contributions from other RMS team members. This ensures that users will always have access to the latest techniques, technologies, and best practices.

Get Started Today

The new Reliability In-The-Field page is live and ready to use. Whether you’re looking to deepen your knowledge, troubleshoot a specific issue, or keep up with the latest trends in reliability technology, this collection of resources is designed to support you.

Explore, learn, and engage with the RMS team as we continue to deliver practical, field-tested insights that empower reliability professionals. Start browsing, and discover the insights that can help drive lasting improvements in asset reliability.


Interested in learning more about Condition Monitoring and Reliability?

Check out our training courses for condition monitoring and asset reliability to further enhance your understanding and qualifications!

RMS Training

RMS Mobius Institute Awards


Redefining Positive Displacement Blower Design: Introducing the Innovative Lontra LP2

Lontra worked with RMS’s Motion Amplification® Team to help enhance product design

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Enveloping on a Fan Drive Motor

This is the fifth video case study from the ‘Book of Gold, Practical Condition Monitoring Case Studies’ (#BookofGold) by JPS Reliability. As part of a routine data collection program, a slight change was noted in the fan motor vibration levels. Vibration monitoring frequencies were increased to daily as the defect detoriated. This process enabled planning and a controlled change out of the motor.

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Training Schedule 2024

Dear Students, Colleagues, and Friends,

As the Training Administrator here at RMS, I’m filled with gratitude as I reflect on the incredible journey we’ve shared so far in 2023. Your attendance, support, and enthusiasm have not only made this year remarkable but have also fueled our passion for innovation and excellence in the fields of vibration analysis, ultrasound, thermography and asset reliability training.

I want to take a moment to extend my heartfelt thanks to each one of you. Whether you’ve attended our courses, supported us as an organisation, or simply shared our vision, your contribution has been invaluable.

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Motor Bearing Sub-surface Fatigue Defect

This is the fourth video case study from the ‘Book of Gold, Practical Condition Monitoring Case Studies’ by JPS Reliability. In this video James is not in his shed (it’s too cold), instead he’s in front of the Christmas tree! James hopes to provoke discussion around the questions: how early do you want to detect the defect, what caused the failure, and how can the defect be eliminated. This case features a set of pumps on separate metal base frames secured to the same concrete bed. The motor bearing has a suspected sub-surface fatigue defect.

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Permanently installed vibration sensors, mounting studs & modules

RMS takes pride in recommending high quality condition monitoring solutions that are fit-for purpose. Hansford Sensors’s range of vibration monitoring products are both that, and then some!

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PRO Line Proximity Probe Sets Fit for Purpose

RMS takes pride in recommending high quality condition monitoring solutions that are fit-for purpose. The range of PRO Line Proximity Probes are both that, and some!

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False Brinelling on a Standby Pump Motor

This is the third video case study from the ‘Book of Gold, Practical Condition Monitoring Case Studies’ (#BookofGold) by James Sylvester. In this video James is back in his garden shed sharing a case study that he hopes helps answer the question, how to prevent false brinelling on a standby pump motor. This is a set of pumps on seperate metal base frames secured to the same concrete bed with a common inlet and outlet pipework.

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Stage 4 Rolling Element Defect Due To Edm

This is the second video case study from the ‘Book of Gold, Practical Condition Monitoring Case Studies’ (#BookofGold) by James Sylvester. In this video James can again be found in his garden shed! But hopefully this time you know why! In this video James analyses a Stage 4 Rolling Element Defect that is due to Electrical discharge machining (Edm).

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Aged Bearing – Worm Wheel Gearbox

This is the first video case study from the ‘Book of Gold, Practical Condition Monitoring Case Studies’ (#BookofGold) by James Sylvester. In this video James can be found in his garden shed! Why you may ask! Because that is where he keeps the broken parts from all his case studies – aha! In this video James shows that failure was due to the use of an aged bearing in a Worm Wheel Gearbox. Read more


PeakVue Plus – Bearing Friction

In this the third of three videos on PeakVue, James Sylvester shows that when the Emerson AMS 2140 is setup correctly, PeakVue Plus can detect issues with lubrication health, in this case, the bearing friction was off the scale! The asset in question is a critical plant fan on a variable speed drive with an operational speed of 1200rpm with 22224 EK Taper roller bearings installed.

Incorrect grease used

This short presentation shows how PeakVue Plus detected incorrect grease used by the contractor prior to any considerable bearing damage occurring. As part of the site maintenance annual shutdown the bearing caps were opened, the grease removed and it repacked with fresh grease. Watch as James explains how the PeakVue Plus technology helped confirm the root cause, (6 mins):
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PeakVue Introduction – Part II

In this the second of three videos on PeakVue, James Sylvester shows that when the Emerson AMS 2140 is setup correctly, PeakVue can pick up sub surface Hertzian cracks. In this example, James refers to a 110KW Motor on a variable speed drive for a plant critical pump.

Outer Race Defect Identified

On an asset assessment survey of a critical plant, a sub surface defect on a motor bearing was identified; this was very early detection and allowed time to plan in the bearing replacement as to not disrupt the production schedule. Watch James explain in layman’s terms how the PeakVue technology works and what sets it apart from the others (6 mins).
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What is machine vibration?

30-Second Summary

  • Wear and tear, Unbalance, looseness and misalignment are the most commonly found vibration issues in machines.
  • Precision balancing and alignment practices will help minimise forces acting on a machine’s bearings and shaft seals, thereby resulting in improved reliability of these key component parts
  • Timely detection of vibration can help avoid downtime and enhance the lifespan of machines.

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What is vibration analysis in maintenance?

30-Second Summary

  • Vibration Analysis calculations allow you to detect early signs of machine failure/deterioration. 
  • A trained vibration analyst can easily understand the basics of vibration analysis as well as the failure modes of the equipment.
  • Predictive maintenance helps in preplanning all maintenance tasks as well as any unavoidable downtime.
  • Vibration data acquired from reactive maintenance can help replace or repair the parts which are exhibiting signs of wear and tear.

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PeakVue Introduction – Part I

Here is a the first example from James Sylvester of how visually helpful the new Emerson 2140 PeakVue Plus is while working on site. Read more


Flue Gas Recycle Fan: Introduction

The Flue Gas Recycle Fan is part of the COGA unit. The fan increases the efficiency of the COGA unit by recycling a proportion of the incinerated gases from the COGA stack. The fan is critical in sustaining high rates of operation on the plant, catastrophic failure of this fan would result in a COGA unit shut down. This would increase the emissions to the atmosphere and heavy fines could be imposed by the Environment Agency. Read more


Dynamic Vibration Absorber

This is the 6th, and bonus video case study from the book ‘Enhanced System Reliability Through Vibration Technology’ (ESRTVT) by James Sylvester. In this video James covers a 2-year project period from initial root cause diagnosis on a dynamic vibration absorber to designing, trialing, and implementing an innovative cost-effective solution. Read more


Four-point Contact Bearing – 23RPM Defect

This would have been the final of five video case studies from the book ‘Enhanced System Reliability Through Vibration Technology’ (ESRTVT) by James Sylvester; but James added a sixth, as a bonus! In this video James demonstrates vibration analysis of a slow rotational Four-point Contact Bearing, with a 23RPM Defect. This is to remind us that correct database set up, and Time Waveform Analysis is so important in slow rotational bearings.

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Vibrating Screen Gearbox Bearing Defect

This is the fourth of five video case studies from the book ‘Enhanced System Reliability Through Vibration Technology’ (ESRTVT) by James Sylvester. In this video James shows how it’s possible to diagnose faults on a vibrating screen gearbox. By measuring the correct vibration parameters you can resolve defects in harsh applications, even an inner raceway defect on a vibrating screen.

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