“You can persumptiously predict the failure of an asset 50% of the time, however 100% of the time it will fail randomly.” RCM2
Condition monitoring over the years has become a field of excellence, there are those know and those that understand. Generally speaking a skilled technician may spend 5 years just to grasp the concepts of condition monitoring. Often, equipment is shut down or rebuilt based on a technician that feels there’s an issue, take heed and ensure the proper troubleshooting is performed on the asset prior to any unplanned outages.
Condition monitoring has taken many forms over the years, traditionally Vibration analysis has been the primary area of focus. However as technology evolves, new forms of monitoring have emerged that are user friendly, yet still require a skilled analyst to decipher. Ultrasound, thermography and oil analysis have been around for years, but new software and smaller handheld units have made collecting information in the field easier and safer.
Stay tuned as we touch base on each form of condition monitoring and discuss the fundamentals as well the pros and cons with each technique.
Chris Lamarche, Rotating Equipment Specialist
