Validation of Process Performance through Reliability Measurement
Christopher Chukwutoo Ihueze
Department of Industrial and Production Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.
Ebisike Paschal Soroibe *
Department of Industrial and Production Engineering, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This study employed excels graphic tools to model and evaluate the reliability of production system using Eleme Petrochemical in Nigeria as a case study. The mean time between failures (MTBF) is the reliability parameter used. The exponential distribution function model was used to evaluate the consistency of ten production components and five cooling tower fans in series arrangement as an individual component in a production system. The Eleme Petrochemical production probability distribution function has exponential reliability distribution model with a reliability of 0.9999 within five hundred hours of operation while the reliabilities of critical components ranges from 0.63 to 0.89 for five hundred hours of operation. For 1000 hours of operation the reliability of components ranges from 0.40 to 0.63. Most of the system components have reliability of 0.37 at their mean lives. The hazard rate has exponential distribution described as chance failure phase in reliability analysis. This report recommends scheduled maintenance of 500hours and provision of redundancy to ensure maintainability and serviceability.
Keywords: Hazard rate, reliability, probability of failure, means life, exponential distribution.