Rotating equipment is central to industrial production and manufacturing. Yet constant stress on machinery components pose the threat of equipment failures and unplanned downtime. With high pressure and rotational power at the core of these technologies, stress points are focused on the seals, belts, brakes, and bearings that connect the moving parts of a rotating machinery asset.
Preventive maintenance strategies schedule service tasks over a defined period. Equipment is temporarily taken offline at defined time intervals during which maintenance and replacement tasks are carried out. Measurements of alignment, balance, vibration, lubrication, temperature and shock are among the most important parameters to monitor to prevent unnecessary breakdowns.
Predictive maintenance, on the other hand, actively monitors equipment to allow industrial companies to predict when and where an asset will fail, allowing maintenance and service departments to take steps to correct an issue before it reaches the point of failure.
Alternatively, by implementing sensor and connectivity technologies, rotating equipment providers are looking to support users in their efforts to achieve predictive maintenance. The question is, how well equipped are these users to take on the increased cost and more sophisticated maintenance technologies involved?
Learning objectives:
- Review parameters most relevant to rotating equipment maintenance
- Delineate the efficacies and challenges of preventive maintenance
- Discuss the benefits and challenges of moving to predictive maintenance
- Review emerging technologies being applied in maintenance packages.