Page 224 - Intro Predictive Maintenance

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Data Analysis

After all data are collected from the various inspections and tests, the alarms and
targets should alert the technician to any anomalies. Instinct combined with sensory
and inspection data should warrant further testing. Using the technicians’ wealth of
equipment knowledge along with the effects of the operating environment, is critical
to the success of this program.

Root-Cause Analysis
Repetitive failures and/or problems that require a solution to alleviate the unknown
cause require testing to identify the root-cause of the problem. All the data and infor-
mation collected in the audit, baseline signature, and monitoring stages of the program
will assist in identifying the underlying problem.

Reports
All completed routes, exception testing, and root-cause analysis require a report to be
filed with the predictive maintenance specialist outlining the anomaly identified and
the corrective actions required. These reports should be filed under specific equipment
cataloging for easy, future reference. The reports should include:

• Specific equipment identification
• Data of sample
• Date of report
• Present condition of equipment and lubricant
• Recommendations
• Sample test result data
• Analyst’s name

Use of a computerized system allows the reports to be designed as required and, in
many cases, will provide an equipment condition overview report.

9.2.5 Program Evaluation
Predictive maintenance tasks are based on condition measurements and performance
on the basis of defects before outright failure impacts safety and production. Well-
managed predictive maintenance programs are capable of identifying and tracking
anomalies. Success is often measured by factors such as number of machines moni-
tored, problems recognized, number of saves, and other technical criteria. Few main-
tenance departments have successfully translated technical and operating results
gained by predictive maintenance into a value and benefits in the financial terms nec-
essary to ensure continued management support. Without credible financial links to
the facility and organization’s business objectives, technical criteria are essentially