You give your car engine regular tune-ups…your machine assets need the same attention.
The start of a new year is an excellent time to recommit – not only to personal betterment but business as well. At IVC, we’re committed to helping our customers develop and maintain solid condition based monitoring programs (CBM) to keep their machines and equipment running at optimum performance.
With over 30 years in the condition monitoring industry, we know what goes into a strong CBM program and how to cultivate it over time. To help you start 2019 off on the right foot, our key leaders share some must-haves when it comes to strong CBM programs:
- Commitment A strong CBM program requires a commitment not only from the top-down but just as importantly, from the bottom-up. Everyone should have a clear understanding as to why the program is being implemented (i.e. the benefits of condition monitoring).
- Budget with the future in mind Budgeting for a successful program (personnel, equipment/upgrades and training) requires forward-thinking in terms of years, versus what will it cost today. You want to ensure adequate funding for both now and in the future.
- Prioritize personnel selection Selecting the people involved with your CBM program is critically important. Technology is always evolving and changing the processes by which things are done. The individuals you choose should have an appetite for ongoing learning, an eagerness when faced with new challenges and a strong desire to improve their respective maintenance organizations.
- Keep the sword sharp – refresher training and workshops are essential components for keeping the right people on the right track. Just because an individual attended training 15 years ago, doesn’t mean they’re still automatically qualified to work on new, more technologically advanced machines and equipment that exist in factories today.
- Understand the CBM equipment available Having a clear understanding of the CBM equipment on the market today is vital. Take the time to evaluate and question the capabilities of each CBM tool you’re looking to purchase. Understand which CBM technology to apply to best identify the possible failure modes for any given asset.
- Realistic expectations Unfortunately, there is no “easy” button when it comes to developing and maintaining a good CBM program. Vetting each technology tool and its limitations will save you thousands of dollars in the long run.
- Communication Open communication at all levels is key to ensuring that problems, as well as successes, get communicated, reports are effectively distributed, and ongoing efforts get publicized so all members of the team are on the same page.
- Measurements Continuous measurements and KPIs are a must for tracking your program’s effectiveness.
- Evaluate your program Whether you are using internal KPIs to track effectiveness or need the eyes of a qualified third party to come in and evaluate your program, you must have a monitoring method to see if your program is going in the right direction.
Already have a CBM program in place?
Even the best programs in the world need regular tune-ups. At IVC, we have some of the top minds in the CBM industry, along with the most advanced, cutting-edge technology available. Whether you’re setting up a new CBM program or fine-tuning an existing one – our experts can help you to be sure it is sound and efficient.