Condition monitoring and machine maintenance services monitor the condition of machines, back-up batteries, battery banks, cabinets or racks, critical power supplies, processes, and rotary equipment. Condition monitoring and machine maintenance services also perform predictive maintenance (PdM) and/or preventive maintenance to maintain reliability, avoid loss of life, and prevent costly, unplanned plant or machine shutdowns. Condition monitoring and related services under this category include: ferrography or oil analysis (lubricant testing) alignment, position, balance evaluation and correction, and ultrasonic fault detection.

Other preventive machine maintenance services are repairs, part replacements, or lubrication replenishment performed on a regular time-based schedule. Predictive maintenance services are repairs, part replacements, or lubrication replenishment performed based on the results or predictions of condition monitoring.

Condition monitoring, predictive maintenance, preventative maintenance, and other related services are important where rotary machinery or capital equipment are used in paper mills, chemical process plants, power plants, marine shipping, or other critical applications. Other condition monitoring and machine maintenance services are also commonly available.

Types of Condition Monitoring and Machine Maintenance Services

Condition monitoring and machine maintenance services identify and document hidden defects providing evidence of required rework before machinery actually fails.

Machine condition monitoring can be applied to condition monitoring of temperature, analysis of machine vibration, over voltage, or current and liquid level. Any condition that can be detected by a sensor can be monitored.

RCM condition monitoring uses inspection techniques to determine the condition of systems and equipment and is directly applicable to building systems.

Engine condition monitoring identifies potential engine and rotorcraft HUMS parameters suitable for sensing pressure and temperature. Other considerations involved in selecting parameters include potential problems, accuracy, and cost.

CNC machine maintenance uses machines that are fast, repeatable, programmable, and that can function while unattended, making it possible to manufacture parts quickly and efficiently.

Preventive and industrial machine maintenance is essential to the efficient and reliable operation of any facility. Performing maintenance on equipment will extend its life and improve quality.

In chemical manufacturing condition monitoring and production process control, sensors and microprocessors are used extensively to achieve quality control in the manufacturing process. Chemical manufacturing condition monitoring and production process control observes important properties of the finished product and accordingly monitors the production process.

Scheduled servicing and maintenance should be performed to avoid the untimely breakdown of machinery. Scheduled servicing and maintenance can be a routine and non-routine maintenance program, thus making condition monitoring and machine maintenance services simple and effective.

Features

Critical power services are another aspect of condition monitoring and predictive or preventive maintenance. Critical power services monitor, analyze, and maintain the condition and reliability of battery banks, back-up power supplies, battery cabinets, rectifiers, DC electrical distribution systems, UPS or uninterruptable power supplies, and other critical power sources that allow continuous operation of critical facilities. Scheduled servicing and maintenance should be performed to avoid untimely breakdown or unplanned shutdown of telecom, wafer fabrication, medical, machinery, power generation, chemical production, paper mill, textile, and other capital facilities or plants. Load capacity testing, thermographic scanning or thermography, battery impedance, cell voltages, current, system voltage, resistance, specific gravity (hydrometry), and electrolyte temperature are measured and monitored. Predictive analysis is used to determine when scheduled or planned maintenance is required to prevent unplanned shutdowns. Scheduled battery servicing and maintenance can be a routine and non-routine maintenance program, thus making battery condition monitoring and battery maintenance services simple and effective.

Applications

Condition monitoring and machine maintenance services are used in many applications. Examples include their use in rotary machinery or capital equipment, paper mills, chemical process plants, power plants, marine shipping, or other critical applications. Condition monitoring and machine maintenance services are highly effective in inspecting and accepting new systems. Condition monitoring and machine maintenance services are used in cars where the oil pressure warning light illuminates to indicate the need for oil.

Standards

Condition monitoring and machine maintenance services should adhere to industry-specific standards of the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

Related Information 

Engineering360—Escaping the Reactive Maintenance Rut Through Analytics

IEEE Spectrum—Deep Learning AI Listens to Machines for Signs of Trouble