Moving the Production Line

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Problems instigated by a move may not be immediately visible when a line is returned to service. In fact, symptoms of potentially serious problems may appear long after installation and setup are complete. These potential problems may crop up:

• Motors are noisy or burn out prematurely
• Equipment shuts down for unclear reasons
• Sensors and detectors don't function properly
• Operator complains of ergonomic problems

Outsourcing electrical work is not a panacea

Because electricians and other maintenance personnel are often fully occupied just keeping the facility operating, electrical work for production line moves is often outsourced. While one can usually rely on electrical contractors to follow the requirements of the National Electrical Code for all of the electrical work they do, bear in mind that the code does not require a contractor to address many of the less obvious and frequently overlooked problems, such as voltage drops, harmonics, and EMI (electromagnetic interference).

The contractor's job is to provide an electrical installation "essentially free from hazards but not necessarily efficient, convenient, or adequate for good service or future expansion of electrical use," according to Article 90 of the National Electrical Code. Unless one has made contractual provisions to upsize conductors, use cable specifically designed for VFDs when needed, and the like, one should not rely on the electrical contractor to anticipate and solve many of the subtler issues that may arise, or to plan for future control and equipment concerns or enhancement.

What needs to be done?

Many of the things that need to happen when moving or reconfiguring a production line are obvious:

• design the new layout
• schedule and coordinate each step of the process
• calculate costs
• disconnect, move, and re-rig equipment
• reroute wiring
• reinstall and reconnect equipment
• start up, test, and troubleshoot the reconfigured line

Here are some less obvious requirements for a new or reconfigured setup:

• Find and correct any EMI problems
• Replace worn-out and outdated equipment and upgrade equipment where it makes sense to do so
• Ensure motor drive systems are delivering clean power free of harmonics and at the right voltage after the move

A nine-step electrical system checklist for moving a production line

When engineering is busy getting the production line laid out and operating, the project manager is focused on staying on schedule, and maintenance is tied up keeping the rest of the plant's equipment running, how does one ensure the new electrical installation will work safely and correctly when it's brought back online? How can one ensure upgrade and replacement opportunities are realised? Try using a checklist. It can serve as a map, an agreement about what's to be done (and when and how), and a memory aid to make sure everything gets done.

At a minimum, a checklist should address:

• safety
• power quality
• voltage drop and voltage unbalance
• VFD-related concerns
• grounding
• power and control wiring
• additional items peculiar to the industry, processes, goals, and requirements

There is a nine-step checklist which can be used as a starting point to help plan the production line move, to keep it on track, to realize the opportunities for replacements and upgrades, and to help troubleshoot when the move is done.