Advantages of Condition Monitoring (CM)
The old cliche of relating Condition Monitoring or Predictive Maintenance to any medical related field is deadening. I almost eye-roll to see it sometimes and then realize; there are still those that haven’t figured it out or haven’t been exposed to the relationship. So, in effort to reach some that haven’t thought about it or have no complete buy-in to equipment condition monitoring I have to ask: Have you been to the Dentist lately?
Bad teeth can greatly impact your smile, inflict great pain and cause a range of health issues; including heart complications. Not to mention, the hefty bill you will receive. Having a toothache and the pain associated with it forces us to visit the dentist where he or she can evaluate; where the pain is, what the cause might be, why the problem developed, and suggest corrective actions. If you have regular visits for check-ups, the chances of experiencing pain again are greatly reduced because the dentist is measuring, tracking and correcting conditions. So, we trust the technologies and suggestions the dentist employs to reducing the potential tooth failure and extend our beautiful smiles, health and pocketbook.
Implementation of Condition Monitoring (CM) programs across a wide range of industries are stronger than ever today. Fortunately, these programs have fostered for many years, due to program successes. Identifying equipment or machine failures ahead of failures to come; places your maintenance team in an advantage to discovering great details of a given machines conditions (bearing faults, misalignment, loose connections, unbalance electrical loads, contaminated oil and many more). Examples of Condition Monitoring tools include Vibration Analysis, Oil Analysis, Infrared Thermography, Electric Motor Testing and Ultrasound to name a few.
Vibration Analysis (VA)
Consequently, vibration analysis is the first condition monitoring program implemented. Electro-mechanical equipment and rotating components develop specific frequencies and characteristics that allow vibration instrumentation to capture, display and trend data. A certified vibration analyst familiar with vibration signatures and patterns delivers diagnoses of machine faults and reports to those findings. As a result, your machine health is documented with information to take action to avoid pains (repair on OT, unsafe condition, unplanned downtime).
Why Measure? (Safety, Cost & Extending expected machine life)
- Safety (Think of your plant equipment and ask: What if?)
- Repair time reduced
- Unscheduled downtime reduced
- Reduced Wrench Time (Do more with your maintenance team)
- Repair vs Replace (Better informed of equipment condition)
- Extend Machine Life
What should you do?
- Develop your Condition Monitoring Program. (Thumbs-up)
- Finally, go to the Dentist. (Eye-Roll)