Implementing Ultrasonic Testing In a World Class Brewery

Anheuser-Busch 14 Breweries Started 1852 Quality Product Profitably Manufactured

Predictive Technologies 4 years ago Dan Durbin, Corporate Operations Engineering Vision to improve maintenance practices Dan Durbin, Engineer Corporate Operations Anheuser-Busch Companies

Focus Limited Initial Technologies to –Vibration Analysis –Oil Analysis –Infrared Thermography –Ultrasonic Inspection

Where to Start? Develop Policies, Best Practices and Standards Develop In-House Training Establish Metric and Track Results

Hurdles Utilities Pays for Compressed Air Packaging and Brewing Use the Air Challenge: Get Buy-in at the Brewery Level

Solution Quarterly Scorecard Leak Reduction is a Corporate Program Compliance is Tracked on Scorecard Improvement is Awarded Thru Bonus

Documentation All Breweries Surveyed During Shutdown Developed Project Papers for Leak Detector Purchase Purchase 17 SDT 170 Leak Detectors Project ROI < 12 months

Challenge Met Program in Full Implementation Has Support to VP Level Frequency is Driven by Data In House CBT Developed and Mandatory

Implementation Guidelines

Separate Brewery by line or cost center Generate Repetitive Work Order Perform Ultrasonic Scan Document Potential Savings

Implementation Guidelines Determine Cause of Air Loss –Design Issue –Actual Leak

Implementation Guidelines Design Issue –Notify Reliability Mgr –Determine Cost Effectiveness to Re-design Yes –Notify Corporate Liaison of Re-design No –Stop

Implementation Guidelines Air Loss is a Leak –Can Leak be Repaired Now? No –Generate Work Order –Schedule Repair Yes –Repair Leak

Implementation Guidelines Verify that Leak is Repaired Re-assessment and Follow-up

Conclusions and Summaries Objective –Lower Cost of Maintenance & Production Reduce demand for Air and Steam Reduced waste of CO2 Future Implementations –Condition Monitoring –Condition Based Lubrication

Final Tip It is often noted that “finding a leak never saved a dime” and no truer words can be spoken on the subject of ultrasonic compressed air leak detection. As satisfying as it may be to spend 8 hours identifying 100’s of compressed air leaks, there is no payback in wrapping a yellow ribbon around a leaking pipe fitting. “It has to be fixed to save”

Contact Us More Information? Contact: SDT North America Toll Free USA/Canada (905) International