Until recently, vibration technology was the only means to assess many mechanical failures in the field. However, the motor and driven load is relatively inaccessible in industrial environments. Due to safety considerations it is uncommon for maintenance professionals to investigate the functionality of automated machinery during operation. These professionals rarely check the inside of a machine’s enclosure unless a known fault has to be fixed. Unfortunately many faults are not recognized until they reach catastrophic proportions, stopping functionality and production. This sets the basis of the problem. With vibration not 100% effective and no other technology readily available, where do maintenance professionals turn? Advances in Electrical on-line motor monitoring is giving predictive maintenance a new field of rapidly growing technology. On-line motor monitoring looks at numerous areas of the motors working environment, however, the use of instantaneous torque signatures is quickly showing benefits in recognizing mechanical problems prior to failure.