The Mantua Group

Simple Black and White Asset Management, Reliability Expertise, and Maintenance Execution Perfection.

Philip Sage

Competing Risks or Not

Join Philip and Fred as they discuss the difference in data analysis and results when the dataset does or does not have competing risks of failure.
Topics include:

  • What are competing risks?
  • The extreme value family of distributions.
  • Does your software just assume competing risks?

Enjoy an episode of Speaking of Reliability. Where you can join friends as they discuss reliability topics. Join us as we discuss topics ranging from design for reliability techniques to field data analysis approaches.

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Industry Research by The Mantua Group

industry research

UTILITY INSIGHTS

June 2025 Edition – Bridging Qualitative and Quantitative Research in Asset Management

Feature Article: A Mixed-Methods Approach to Asset Performance

Background

Modeling asset performance is essential for ensuring reliability and efficiency in the electrical utility sector. However, the early retirement of assets, informed by qualitative health indices like dissolved gas analysis (DGA), introduces informative censoring. This challenge limits the reliability of quantitative service life models, impacting decision-making and resource optimization.

The Research

This study develops a mixed-methods framework that integrates qualitative health assessments with quantitative modeling to address these challenges. The research examines how qualitative health indices influence early retirement decisions and their effects on statistical evaluations of asset service life.

  • Quantitative Analysis: Evaluates right-censored service life data to enhance modeling accuracy.
  • Qualitative Insights: Investigates DGA-derived health indices, categorizing assets into states like “Good” or “Faulty.”
  • Methodology Adaptation: Refines traditional qualitative approaches to suit industry needs, prioritizing scientific measurements over social methods.

Impact

This framework reduces prediction errors, enhancing asset management and resource allocation. The study’s findings support improved reliability analysis and operational strategies while offering a scalable model for integrating qualitative and quantitative approaches across industries.

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Explore more industry innovations – contact us today!

Root Cause Analysis and Defect Elimination with Philip Sage

In this episode, I speak with Philip Sage about Root Cause Analysis and Defect Elimination.

Akshay wanted to understand the difference between both and learn where they can be applied. Philip shares his experiences and what defect elimination can do for your organization.

If you want to learn more about Defect Elimination, you can reach out to Philip on LinkedIn.

Key Points

Differences between Defect Elimination and Root Cause Analysis.

An Effective Start in Reliability Engineering

Philip and Fred discussing How to get started in Reliability, Building your Network of Advisors, Using Mentoring to uncover Gold, Thirst and passion for getting better, teamwork and making the inevitable mistake.

Key Points

Join Philip and Fred as they discuss how to get started in the Reliability role s available today.
Topics include:

  • How to get started in Reliability yourself – or how to unleash the power of a great new mind.
  • What are the key secrets for the next generation of Reliability Engineers?
  • Quenching your thirst for getting better – What to do if you are alone, multi-site of part of a large Reliability minded effort.
  • Understanding the business dynamics, Communication, and achieving technical soundness by continually learning.

So, Enjoy an episode of Speaking of Reliability. Where you can join friends as they discuss reliability topics. Join us as we discuss topics ranging from design for reliability techniques to field data analysis approaches.

Philip and Fred discuss a myriad of topics relevant to getting started and succeeding in the Reliability profession. As reliability professionals we get to work on everything from the smallest micro circuit to the largest of machines ever built. This show discusses how we got our start into the field of reliability back when it wasn’t a defined field of specialization. Salient points are made for the next generation of Reliability professions that include continual learning, the need to have a great mentor who helps guide your development and having a thirst or passion for getting better everyday. Fred and Phil speak to the technology trap, the need for effective communications, the value of technical soundness and the need to approach reliability as a people process.

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R U a Keyboard Jockey?

Philip and Fred discussing several salient reliability and maintenance pitfalls and the role of continuous learning and solid mentoring for new reliability engineers.

Learn how craft bread making, pickle failures, and physics guessing teach us how to recognize the impossible and why being a keyboard jockey is a good place to start, but a bad place to finish.

Key Points

Join Philip and Fred as they discuss:

Join Philip and Fred as they discuss the advanced interrelations between making craft bread, pickle fermentation and applied Physics based guessing applied to Reliability & Maintenance practical topics.

Fred and Phil muse and poke some fun at real issues that include:

  • Software Jockeys – the Shiny new coin effect
  • Knowing your answer is wrong – applying the “sniff test”
  • Recognizing the Impossible
  • Parameterized Regression pitfalls
  • Applications of MTBF to RAMS Studies
  • Forward Asset Predictions with confidence
  • The never ending cycle of continuous learning.

Enjoy an episode of Speaking of Reliability. Where you can join friends as they discuss reliability topics. Join us as we discuss topics ranging from design for reliability techniques to field data analysis approaches.

Play

Podcast: Play in new window | Download