Early Warning

The latest technology allows precise failure modes to be detected weeks, months, and sometimes years in advance. It is not uncommon to monitor known problems for many months and still provide a maintenance schedule that avoids a costly unscheduled overhaul. The goal is to make repairs on only the items that are in failure mode and at the best possible time.

Research provided by the government agencies such as the US Navy, NASA and the US Army has found that the latest detection technology is 98% accurate. This accuracy has prompted these organizations to fully implement Condition Based Maintenance. In fact it is now mandatory.

The graph and photo below show a vibration signature from a compressor that on the service record seemed acceptable. Using vibration analysis it was found that one of the support bearings was in a failure mode and needed replacing before the next plant shutdown. The photo is of the actual bearing showing the defect found. Maintenance engineering concluded that without this technology the compressor would have catastrophically failed within two months. By taking proactive measures the only item replaced was the bearing.