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Abstract

This article focuses on the concept of predictive maintenance (PdM) and its use in the manufacturing industry. Predictive maintenance is an umbrella term covering techniques such as vibration analysis, lube oil evaluation, and thermography. Despite the progress in automation, communication, and data manipulation that has allowed PdM companies to monitor tons of machines efficiently and accurately, the technology has not displaced people from the picture altogether. Companies are finding it more cost-effective to funnel the data to the experts instead of maintaining their own experts on site. The turbine generator at the University of North Carolina co-generation plant in Chapel Hill provides electricity to the campus and hospital. At the highest level, where a machine’ failure could severely affect a plant’s safety, environment, or profit, a full arsenal of PdM weapons, including periodic or continuous vibration monitoring, lube oil analysis, and infrared thermography, would keep its eyes on things. In another example discussed in the article, a reliability-centered approach aligns a plant’s business objectives and maintenance strategy to decide upon the best way to monitor assets.