subject: When Would You What Condition Monitoring? [print this page] Companies know that condition monitoring is essential to preventing the high costs of a breakdown of expensive machinery. Merely getting an employee double checking the systems from time to time is error prone and time consuming to employ. However, with machines to watch the machines, it is a battle that can be fought and won. Sensors can't yet think for themselves of course, so you will still need at least one technician whose job is to monitor the monitors. They are tools to help workers make more accurate diagnosis and stand in where it's impossible for human workers to read the signs. There are a few basic ways a company can monitor the efficiency of their machinery.
The On-Line monitoring system is one of the best for early warning of potential problems. Typically, this involves setting a series of permanent sensors into the equipment. This allows for a fast test to see if they are operating, if the conditions are within expected levels, and if the sensor fails the broken signal will self diagnose it. An employee can then have a monitoring station set up to view the status of all the sensors in the facility. If something is wrong, the sensor can alert the worker with an instant warning message. Using sensors can save you money and act to notify the company that they need to investigate a problem with the machinery.
On-Site monitoring is a second method of monitoring that doesn't involve constant, intimate observation of the machinery. Usually, monitoring equipment is placed on-site and used to test or analyze the machining on a regular basis. This is ideal in isolated or dangerous locations, that have a lot of wear and tear naturally, such as a desert. On-site monitoring usually leads to more involved off-site monitoring when samples require more clarification.
Off-site monitoring is a lot slower, and most often has a dedicated facility for analysis, but it is more accurate, and efficient if you have a big enough operation. When such measures are essential it is not unusual for a laboratory full of scientists to receive the samples for thorough testing. Off-site monitoring is the final step in confirming whatever conditions other monitoring devices such as, a CEM system, have alerted the company too.
Condition monitoring has the potential to save businesses millions yearly in preventing major breakdowns in machinery and helping avoid violation of EPA regulations. Each of the three monitoring methodologies have their own plusses. For example, setting up an on-site test to see if it is just a simple problem when the on-line sensors are triggered, could save you some money.
