One of the goals of the Corporate Facilities Services group at Genentech is to operate a world-class facility. The primary focus for achieving this goal is continuous improvement of facilities and maintenance systems to reduce operating costs. By driving down operating costs, more funds can be allocated to developing the product pipeline and achieving the mission.
The company has several guiding principles for identifying and executing continuous improvement projects, including improving asset management, reducing energy costs, and improving uptime (Box, p. TK). Under this umbrella, we undertook pilot projects to test the potential of wireless monitoring. It sought to discover if wireless solutions could help in its performance-based maintenance strategy, and do so securely and seamlessly, without disrupting plant operations.
(Click to enlarge image) Wireless freezer monitors were installed to measure compressor amperage, internal chamber temperature, and door open/close status.
Losing Steam
Genentech recently identified several types of equipment that could benefit from a performance-based maintenance strategy in order to reduce energy costs or to improve uptime. Steam traps are one. Genentech has an annual steam trap maintenance program. However, throughout the year, steam traps often fail, and steam loss from failed traps was estimated to cost the company hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. Steam trap failures could be prevented or found as they occur using a steam trap monitoring system, resulting in significant energy savings.
Critical research equipment was another area of focus. Ultra-low freezers are critical to research activities. Reliability issues with older stand-alone freezers result in downtime and potential loss of work product. Maintenance activities are performed more frequently to avoid these issues. Performance-based monitoring of these research freezers would allow the maintenance staff to proactively detect issues and prevent failures. This would result in increased freezer uptime and could potentially extend the useful life of the freezers.
The challenges with implementing performance-based maintenance on existing systems include cost and invasiveness. In order to monitor the condition of assets, analog instruments must be replaced or new instruments must be installed to collect data. Traditionally, this work is invasive and requires a process interruption and engineering oversight. Furthermore, the new system must be commissioned for restart. This often includes inspections and leak checks, as well as revalidation in order to return the system to service. These activities often result in an unfavorable cost/benefit ratio.
(Click to enlarge image) Steam trap monitors were installed to minimize the risk of trap failure.
Finding a Solution
As a cost effective alternative, Genentech consulted with Cypress Envirosystems to identify a non-invasive monitoring solution, in which devices are clamped onto existing instrumentation to collect and wirelessly transmit data to a server for trending and alarming. This method eliminates the need for process interruption for installation and minimizes engineering oversight.
Table 1 shows the comparison of monitoring solutions. Genentech was concerned about the viability of a new wireless technology in the facility. Although the traditional monitoring solution was more challenging to implement, it was a technology that was commonly used on campus. With the non-invasive wireless solution, there were concerns with data integrity, wireless security, and data integration into the existing infrastructure. We partnered with Cypress to demonstrate proof of concept.
| Table 1. Traditional Monitoring vs. Non-Invasive Wireless Monitoring Solution | ||
| Traditional Monitoring* | Non-Invasive Wireless Monitoring | |
| Plant Disruption | • Invasive • Process interruption required • Wiring required |
• Non-invasive, clamp-on devices • No process interruption • Minimal wiring |
| Reliability | • Power source required • Real-time data collection |
• Battery operated • Pre-programmed data collection rate |
| Engineering | • Changes existing system • May require engineering change management • System re-commissioning required for restart |
• No changes to existing system • Minimal engineering change management • No system restart required |
| Infrastructure | May require new software | Interface available for integration into existing infrastructure |
| Cost | $3,000-$5,000 per point | $750-$1,500 per point |
| *Replacing analog instruments or installing new instruments | ||
Results
Steam Traps: Wireless Steam Trap Monitors (WSTMs) were installed on 56 steam traps at a cost of $42,000. The WSTMs were intended to provide early indication of steam leakage or blockage, which lead to failure. Data was collected on a “blue box” server for trending analysis.
Fourteen steam traps showed signs of failure. The maintenance team investigated and the traps were replaced. Early detection saved an estimated $53,000 in annual steam loss. The project payback was 10 months.
Critical Research Equipment: Wireless Freezer Monitors (WFMs) were installed on 20 critical freezers at a cost of $20,000. The WFMs measured parameters including low-stage and high-stage compressor amperage, internal chamber temperature, and door open/close status. The data collected was intended to provide early indication of refrigerant leaks or door seal issues, which lead to freezer failures.
(Click to enlarge image) Figure 1. Freezer Compressor Amperage Data Trend
This graph shows low stage compressor amperage over time for two freezers. The profile of the abnormal freezer indicates a potential refrigerant leak.
Four freezers showed signs of distress. Sample data trends are shown in Figures 1-3. Even though the temperature profiles of the freezers showed no problems with freezer functionality, the compressor amperage profiles indicated that freezer failure was imminent. The issues were investigated and resolved by the maintenance team without having to replace the freezers. Early detection saved an estimated $20,000 in replacement costs. Furthermore, Corporate Facilities Services repaired the freezers before they failed and minimized the risk of losing any research samples, thus protecting the product pipeline. The project payback was immediate.
(Click to enlarge image) Figure 2. Freezer Compressor Amperage Data Trend
This graph shows high stage compressor amperage over time for two freezers. The profile of the abnormal freezer indicates an electrical problem with the compressor.
The pilot projects demonstrated that the non-invasive wireless monitoring solution was a successful tool in implementing a performance-based maintenance strategy. Installation of the solution did not disrupt plant operations. There were no issues found with wireless security. The data collected was easily integrated into Genentech’s existing infrastructure. The overall results showed a payback period of less than one year.
(Click to enlarge image) Figure 3. Freezer Temperature Data Trend
Temperature over time for two freezers; the profile of the abnormal freezer indicates a potential door seal problem.
Principles of Continuous ImprovementGuiding principles for identifying and executing continuous improvement projects include:
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