Is Condition Monitoring Right for You?
Given the constant introduction of new technology and lower price of entry, condition monitoring can and will be implemented in more and more systems.
Condition monitoring of machines and systems has been around in some form for several decades. It’s evolved from people taking manual measurements and performing simple analysis of systems to computers monitoring very expensive, complex and mission-critical systems (e.g. military aircraft) using high-powered processors and distributed sensors.
Given the constant introduction of new technology and lower price of entry, condition monitoring can and will be implemented in more and more systems.
Here are some questions you can use to determine if condition monitoring is right for your system.
From a product or system lifecycle perspective, similar to typical product development, there are three main points in which condition monitoring may be injected:
- To instrument existing systems to collect data to justify incorporation into future designs
- To augment existing systems
- To build monitoring into new designs
More generally, any system that meets the desired return-on-investment (ROI) is a candidate for condition monitoring. ROI can and should attempt to account for straightforward factors such as direct downtime costs, as well as more complex factors, such as environmental impact.
There are three primary reasons to consider condition monitoring:
- Reduced downtime: Increases throughput, profit, and staff and customer satisfaction
- Increased safety: Drives down insurance costs and minimizes lawsuits
- Improved environmental impact: Reduces manufacturing waste or prevents impending structural failures
Curious if your system meets the desired ROI for condition monitoring? Download the full whitepaper to understand the direct and indirect costs for condition monitoring and learn how data gathered through condition monitoring can be used to make decisions about your system.
Have more specific questions? Request a condition monitoring consultation with Viewpoint Systems.