Factory Downtime Minimization through Tracking of Maintenance Information System of Metahara Sugar Factory, Ethiopia
Journal Title: STAR Journal - Year 2014, Vol 3, Issue 3
Abstract
Analysis of factory downtime records of Metahara Sugar Factory for the past twelve consecutive years show that the total number of stops and stop hours of one of the stations (front factory) was more than 300% higher than other stations. The front factory comprises two tandems: tandem A and B. The total downtime records for the first six months of 2013/14 sugar production season for tandem A show that the downtime was mainly due to mechanical failures, lack of canes, preventive maintenance activities, cleanings due to blockages, and electrical failures, which account 64.1, 13.7, 6.8, 5.9 and 3.1 % of the total stop hours respectively. Similarly, the records for tandem B show that 64.2, 11.3, 8.7, 8.4 and 6.2 % of the total downtime were mainly due to mechanical failures, cleanings due to blockages, electrical failures, lack of canes and preventive maintenance activities respectively. Therefore, measures should be taken at the front factory to reduce mechanical failures and blockages in order to sustain the achievements of the factory. The factory sets to maintain factory downtime below 9% and total downtime below 12% but actual figures were higher. Factory downtime record for the first six months of 2013/14 sugar season showed reduction of 75.7%. But the overall achievements were still higher than the set values. In this paper, based on downtime records, it is believed that measures should be taken at the front factory in order to reduce mechanical failures and blockages. Only by considering lost production capability, an increase in annual sugar production capability of 78,705 quintals will be achieve (additional revenue of more than 4 millions USD annually).
Authors and Affiliations
Minale Getachew| Research and Training, Sugar Technology Research Directorate, Ethiopian Sugar Corporation, Post Box No: 15, Ethiopia
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP9697
- DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/star.v3i3.24
- Views 317
- Downloads 17
Molecular Epidemiology of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Complex at Nekemte Municipality Abattoir, Western Ethiopia
A cross-sectional study was conducted at Nekemte Manicipality Abattoir from September 2009 to May 2010 to estimate the prevalence of bovine tuberculosis (BTB), and characterize its causative agents. Post mortem examina...
Structural Studies of BaTiO3 Ferroelectric Material Prepared by Green Chemistry (Sol-gel) Method
Nano particle Barium Titanate (BT) is the first ferroelectric ceramics and a good nominee for a variety of applications from large family of Perovskite. In this study BaTiO3 was synthesised by using Sol-gel (green chem...
Female Headed Households and Poverty in Rural Ethiopia
The study has tried to examine the extent of poverty of female–headed households by the way of making comparisons with their male counterparts in rural Ethiopia. It further looks through the determinants of poverty i...
Spatial and Temporal Uncertainty of Rainfall in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas of Ethiopia
The aim of this study was to assess rainfall uncertainty and trends in the arid and semi-arid areas of Ethiopia by using rainfall data records from the thirteen stations over the period of 1952-2012. In this study annu...
A Socio-Economic Linkage of Urban Informal Sector to Formal and Other Informal Sectors in Hawassa Town: Intensifying Growth from the Street
A comprehensive survey pertaining to vendors and the role vendors’ play in economic links between urban informal and formal sectors in Hawasa town is not studied so far. Hence, the main purpose of this study has been t...