Well managed assets are central to reduced risk, and outperformance of operational and financial targets. To help utilities achieve world-class asset management Black & Veatch and EMS Cognito have teamed-up to offer bespoke Lean Reliability Centred Maintenance (RCM) programmes and training.
"What sets Black & Veatch apart is the ability to support every point in the lifecycle of utilities' assets. Becoming an authorised provider of EMS Cognito's IMPACT Masterclass™ Lean RCM Programme extends our reach further into the asset management sphere," commented Scott Aitken, Managing Director, Black & Veatch Europe.
Lean RCM focusses on what a process is intended to do, identifying factors that stop the process from delivering, then implementing steps to mitigate those factors; creating a condition-based regime for asset maintenance.
"Our IMPACT Masterclass™ Lean RCM Programme has been adopted across many industries. This agreement with Black & Veatch is an opportunity to introduce our accredited process improvement programme to additional water and energy companies," according to Richard Kelly, Managing Director, EMS Cognito.
The Authorised Provider Agreement between the companies means Black & Veatch's asset management professionals will be trained by EMS Cognito to deliver the IMPACT MasterclassTM Lean RCM Programme to its water and energy clients. "Reliability centred programmes developed by experts in the design and construction of utility assets will be the ones most swiftly able to optimise and enhance system performance; we will be able to offer great 'speed to value,” added Aitken.
The IMPACT MasterclassTM Lean RCM Programme encompasses lean manufacturing and reliability centred maintenance tools structured to improve the efficiency of asset-intensive processes. Integral to the approach's success is early engagement with operations and maintenance teams to ensure the new regime can be embedded as business-as-usual. “At one site, we have seen a 58 percent reduction in reactive and corrective tasks in the ten months since roll-out,” noted Kelly.Implementation of the IMPACT MasterclassTM Lean RCM Programme can be accredited by the Scottish Qualifications Authority. This provides investors, regulators and customers with the confidence of third-party verification in the quality of a utility's asset management regime.
Editor’s Notes:
- The Lean RCM qualification has been developed to recognise best practice and skills in asset reliability and process improvement
- Black & Veatch is currently delivering AMP6 asset management programmes for many water and sewerage companies, and water-only companies, in England and Wales
- EMS Cognito has trained Lean RCM practitioners and facilitators in the food and drink, water, recycling and automotive sectors
- The Lean RCM qualification is a customised award formally recognised by the Scottish Qualification Authority
About EMS Cognito
EMS Cognito is an international Business Process Improvement Consultancy, based in the UK, with a strong track record of helping leading businesses in the Manufacturing, Utilities, Industrial, Transport, IT, Education and Facilities Management sectors generate tangible and sustainable benefits through process improvement. We support our customers with the introduction of a continuous improvement culture where all levels of employee are fully engaged and empowered to make sustainable process improvements to their working environment based on learning and applying world-class tools and techniques. Visit us at www.emscognito.co.uk and follow us in social media.
Black & Veatch Media Contact Information:
MALCOLM HALLSWORTH | +44 1737 856594 p | +44 7920 701764 m | HallsworthM@BV.com
24-HOUR MEDIA HOTLINE | +1 866 496 9149
EMS Cognito: Adelaide Carneiro |P +44 1179 415373 | M +44 7889 541728 | Adelaide.carneiro@emscognito.co.uk
About Black & Veatch
Black & Veatch is an employee-owned, global leader in building critical human infrastructure in Energy, Water, Telecommunications and Government Services. Since 1915, we have helped our clients improve the lives of people in over 100 countries through consulting, engineering, construction, operations and program management. Our revenues in 2018 were US$3.5 billion. Follow us on www.bv.com and in social media.
