A study of electrical motor management: engineering services department within a large steel manufacturer as case study

Abstract

Electrical motors are the true work horses within industry and these electrical motors have to be managed. This study focuses on a large steel manufacturer's motor population within the engineering service department (ESD) where the status quo for electrical motor management (EMM) activities need to be established (if at all existing) and how it compares to what is proposed in literature. This research seeks to establish whether there is a need for developing/improving EMM and to uncover aspects requiring improvement or development to extract full beneficiation of such an approach. This research further seeks to establish a tool to easily identify and interpret critical shortcomings in current EMM activities (in the case where shortcomings exist) and to provide insight on what aspects are critical for advancing EMM. An EMM maturity model was developed and utilised to measure the effectiveness of the ESD with the large steel manufacturer as it acquires, uses, and disposes of the equipment necessary to the functioning its production processes. The researched EMM maturity model would be used for analysing and tracking electrical motor management activities within the engineering services department at the large steel manufacturer to improve/instigate aspects to advance the maturity level of EMM. This research made use of questionnaires distributed to stakeholders and subsequently an EMM maturity level analysis was conducted to produce the maturity levels allocated by a review panel. The EMM-maturity model developed in this dissertation provides the basis for establishing a new EMM-approach and ensures that the EMM-approach to be deployed is comprehensive, safeguarding the best chance for success. This research is envisaged to aid leadership at the ESD within the large steel manufacturer to establish an implementation plan in accordance with the developed EMM-maturity model to advance the level of maturity for the specific conditions (SCs) within the various process areas (PAs) covered in this dissertation.