The Case for Condition Based Maintenance Available to Purchase

The introduction of ever more complicated machinery and associated operating procedures is placing an increasing strain on the maintenance function. The options available to a company engaged in the manufacture of a range of sheet metal products, for which a flexible manufacturing facility has been installed, are examined. The introduction of this system has caused the company to examine its maintenance procedures,which are based on a traditional breakdown and repair approach, and has prompted an investigation into the possibility of implementing a condition based approach to maintenance. This investigation is presented here, together with a review of currently available options, and an outline of the planned move towards condition based maintenance.