Turbine/Generator Guide Bearing Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) Project

An FMEA performed on the same component can vary across utilities due to different operating practices, maintenance activities, and risk tolerances. This creates challenges in sharing results outside of individual organizations. Additionally, idea generation coming from only internal team members results in a reduced ability to think outside the box and explore new risk mitigation strategies.

One of the core pillars of the HRI is collaboration. Collaboration allows our members to share insights and learn from one another, which in turn improves their decision-making capabilities. To balance the challenges associated with individual FMEA work with the benefits of collaboration, all HRI members took part in an FMEA project to analyze the risks associated with the turbine and generator guide bearings. Each member organization met individually over the course of 6 months to create an independent FMEA applicable to their own business scenario. Then all members came together in a collaborative summit to discuss and debate mitigation strategies, best practices, and lessons learned. This approach concentrated expertise across utilities resulting in greater value than addressing mediation efforts in isolation.

An FMEA provides the most value when the largest breadth of expertise and data is leveraged to understand the full scope of what can go wrong in key generation equipment. The outcome is a more exhaustive FMEA, delivering a more complete picture of risk and mitigation strategies. The full results of HRI's Turbine/Generator Guide Bearing FMEA are available to utility members in the Member Portal.