The Need

During the last 20 years RJK has traveled to sites world-wide and participated in the repair of prime power diesels located in mining, shipping, railway, and construction industries. Over the course of many years, RJK has observed the reporting of common difficulties with the older equipment that have not been supported by a warranty program. RJK has also had many opportunities to collect useful data chronicling the tell-tale signs which can occur prior to a sudden catastrophic engine failure, where in some cases, this sudden loss of power has been more damaging to the owner than the original engine failure itself.

RJK has compiled comprehensive data which can be used to pinpoint common symptoms well in advance of any failure. The data is recorded and readily retrievable. After a major failure occurs, through tracking and reporting, the final data can be thoroughly analyzed. Engine failures can be prevented if data is collected and analyzed on an ongoing basis.

Working with individual companies, RJK has been very successful in assisting with preventative maintenance thus helping its customers avoid damaging and costly engine breakdowns.

The Idea

RJK has bridged the distance barrier through the utilization of modern technology, and has now developed a program to make this service available to everyone. This program will be of interest to such organizations as utilities, hospitals, shipping and mining companies, and in fact, any organization that relies on diesels to provide reliable prime and back-up power for their operation, including any insurers of that equipment.

The Features

RJK’s Planned Response Engine Protection Program (P.R.E.P.P.) has been developed to assist Prime Power Energy Producers to control operation costs associated with engine failure. The prime objective is to curb premature catastrophic failure by having experienced personnel monitor engine data on an ongoing basis to detect abnormal operating trends, advise the plant of these abnormalities, and suggest intervention procedures. Additionally, operators will have access to the valuable historical and comparative data RJK has collected. This data can be used by owners (and potential owners), planners and engineers for brand name and cross-platform comparisons, enhanced budgeting, establishment of industry norms, and qualification of actual data against manufacturer’s published data.

 

The Benefits

Combining modern technologies and proven procedures, distance monitoring has demonstrated its value many times over, in such areas as:

· reduced down time

· reduced fuel burn

· increased engine longevity

· reduced labour and parts consumption during planned inspections

· discounted labour rates for all unplanned repairs

· enhanced budgeting accuracy

· increased awareness of performance compared to industry norms

· decreased production cost per kW

Registered members are offered on-site training, product information, 24 hour telephone support, parts/purchasing support, and labour discounts for any unplanned failure repairs.

The Explanation

Account set up

· owner, operator, powerhouse review study

· customized database development

· customer orientation

Initial inspection and baseline development

· up to 120 man-hour physical examination of engine including cylinders and piston tops with an boroscope (required repairs to meet manufacturer’s published specifications not included)

· start and run the engine for an 8 hour period and record performance data

· complete onsite inventory of tools and consumable parts

· operator orientation including P.R.E.P. Program forms (hard copy and online), manuals, policies, and standard operating procedures

Semi-annual site visit & inspection

· verification of instruments and daily operation logs

· inspection and minor adjustments (as per manufacturer's published 50 hour inspection)

· site inventory, onsite conference and debriefing with engine owner

Yearly monitoring contract

· logging and plotting of collected data

· online reporting of generator performance

· monitoring of engine performance

· operator direct early alarm notification

· operator direct alarm follow-up

· engine performance comparison with industry norms and factory specs

· monthly electronic reports to owner/insurance contact

 

The Team

The front line team consists of Robert and Brent Kreuger. As a team, their combined experience gives the customer the ability to review, understand, and assess the circumstances, identify the needs, and then to devise a plan customized for each site. Once prepared, this plan will be used to train operators and implement the procedures to accommodate the above objective.

The support team consists of RJK personnel, including data managers.

Robert Kreuger - the founder and a principal consultant, has over 20 years experience in the field of diesel engine repair and maintenance. He has worked for over 15 years with MAN B&W (formally GEC Alstom (Ruston) as a sub-contractor, and as their technical representative in the field. He has arranged and supplied both experienced labour and materials for many of their own service contracts. One of his many strengths is his technical expertise in failure analysis. It was through his experiences completing major failure reports for powerhouse owners, insurance companies, and governments that the need for this P.R.E.P. Program was identified. Many of these reports were used to obtain out-of-court settlements.

Robert is constantly keeping current with new advances for approved methods of on-site repair. He has experience in many areas including electrical systems and heavy equipment. In addition to this experience, he has:

· pilot license with multi-engine and instrument flight rating (IFR) endorsements 1977

· certificate of completion for marketing and management for parts, service, and sales for Allis Chalmers 1979

· Inter-Provincial Journeyman status in heavy-duty mechanics trade from Saskatchewan 1981

· 1A driving license with air-brake and semi-transport endorsements 1984

· Ruston Factory training - England 1992

· Woodward Factory Training - England 1992

· Napier Turbo training - Lincoln England 1992

· BDC ISO9001 Product seminars - Saskatoon 1999

· George S. May International Business support and planning. - Saskatoon 1999

 

Brent Kreuger - " Needs" assessment, planning, evaluation, and training are critical skill areas for him. As an owner of Global Infobrokers Inc, a business development and support company, he has worked in a variety of analytical and planning capacities and has assisted over 100 companies in designing management information tools customized to their specific organizational needs. Brent is responsible for technological training, technical support, management and development for companies. Working for large and small businesses and educational institutions, he has helped organizations determine their technology requirements based upon their work needs, located appropriate hardware and software, assessed training needs, designed and delivered electronic training for staff and professionals and made adaptations for cultural and individual learning styles. As an educator, he is acutely aware of the learning needs of individuals and works to ensure that training is delivered in the most appropriate way for the individual. He has worked in a number of different cultural environments and is able to adapt material accordingly. As a trainer and self taught computer user, he approaches training from the point of view of client needs as opposed to technological possibilities. He is well versed in many different business environments and in transitional learning. Brent has been directly involved with RJK for over 10 years has performed a wide variety of tasks including aiding in the teardown and repair of catastrophic engine failures. This first hand experience is what makes him such a valuable asset to RJK’s P.R.E.P.P program. Prior to joining the RJK Group, he owned and operated a commercial photographic print lab specializing in displays and custom work.

Brent holds a Bachelor of Education from the University of Saskatchewan, a Bachelor of Applied Arts from Ryerson Polytechnical Institute in Toronto, and is pursuing a Masters of Distance Education (on-line) on a part-time basis

 

Closing

The above program has been designed to provide the owners of expensive diesel equipment the necessary unbiased analysis and tracking required to make informed positive decisions. There have been too many recorded occurrences where the final report reads, “this failure could have been prevented”. Early detection is the key. So join the program; after all, "knowledge is power."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

· For MORE information on the above contact Robert Kreuger at e-mail rkreuger@rjkpowersystems.com

 

· RJK is establishing dealers world wide, Please contact Robert Kreuger for more information