Where reactive maintenance strategies were used to cope with costly downtime, today’s manufacturers are taking a more proactive approach to machine maintenance and improving equipment efficiency.
As IoT capabilities continue to expand and predictive maintenance solutions become more advanced, more and more companies are beginning to implement proactive preventive strategies in their processes to eliminate downtime and remain competitive. Given today’s technological advancements, the question manufacturers must ask themselves isn’t if they should incorporate a predictive maintenance strategy, but instead which areas of machine health they should focus their program on.
At VibePro, we understand that there are many possible ways to design a comprehensive predictive maintenance strategy. To guide you through the process, below are three of the most important areas of focus every predictive maintenance solution should include.
Ultrasound and Vibration
At the core of any effective predictive maintenance solution is ultrasound and vibrational analysis. Often considered the first line of defense, ultrasonic analysis can lead to early detection of malfunctioning equipment. Ultrasonic instrumentation has the ability to pick up on the subtlest frequency changes that are often masked by ambient plant noise. In most cases, ultrasound monitoring allows technicians to identify at-risk machines, like under or over lubrication, before other instruments are required, saving manufacturers time (reduced inspection times by 30%) and money in the long run.
Widely regarded as the most popular form of predictive maintenance, vibrational analysis is used to monitor the machine health of rotating machinery and is ideal for detecting all types of mechanical faults and determining the root cause. When paired with ultrasonic, the two serve as a strong base in any preventive program and can help manufacturers avoid downtime.
Thermography
In addition to ultrasound and vibrational analysis, thermography is another effective solution in predictive maintenance programs. Utilizing infrared, this non-contact approach to machine maintenance is ideal for detecting potential failures on machines in places with limited access. With thermal imaging, technicians are able visualize a wide range of temperatures and identify faults in misalignment, bearing failures, deteriorated insulation and other electrical issues, and much more.
Utilizing combinations of these methodologies results in an efficient predictive maintenance program that helps manufacturers avoid downtime and operate at peak efficiency. Contact the predictive professionals at VibePro to learn how you can benefit from instilling predictive maintenance into your processes with our powerful and easy-to-use platform.
About VibePro
At VibePro, it is our mission to provide the best predictive tools on a single iPad platform and services to monitor nearly any asset. We strive to bring our customers the portability, connectivity, and affordability offered by the latest available technologies. Our product family combines wireless portable and online vibration data collection and analysis, balancing, shaft alignment, thermography, and ultrasound into an affordable and completely scalable solution on one simple to use platform. VibePro’s predictive technology apps feature many additions that have come directly from customers. Click here to learn more.