Periodical maintenance

When am I supposed to schedule maintenance tasks, and how often?

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Predictive maintenance based on trending gives you an idea as to when a significant – and unwanted - condition change is to be expected as a result of natural wear. This goes a long way in avoiding costly unscheduled down-time.  Contacting GBS Asset Optimization Services ahead of time ensures that correct parts can be ordered or manufactured. Thus delivery and service can be coordinated with your next planned (seasonal) outage.  

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How about the OEM manual?

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The manufacturers’ instruction manual typically will point out some guidelines. These guidelines help you to understand what a normal housekeeping routine looks like. However, they are usually theoretical and sometimes difficult to execute. Still, housekeeping would include a daily tours around the drive, checking for leakage and noise, ensure cleanliness. This is the first step towards getting more and better life out of your drive train. It is also easy to implement en you can do it without help.

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What can I do?

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For a more in-depth and holistic approach towards predictive maintenance, data is needed. Data can be collected in person with a visual inspection when the drive is idle. While the asset is in operation, you can collect data by using tools like acceleration sensors. Depending on the value of your assets, a regular routine can be set up. This includes inspections by your in-house reliability team, mixed with third-party GBS Asset Optimization experts.

 

To decide on the optimal inspection frequency, GBS has created a calculation tool. The tool takes asset replacement cost, duty cycle, lifecycle cost and other parameters into consideration, in order to come up with an output that is both fit for application ánd financially responsible. 

 

Are sensors helpful?

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For assets on the lower end of the value spectrum, an inexpensive early detection device will be a better fit than costly man-hours. If this goes hand-in-hand with housekeeping routine, you will notice any early detection and act on them. For higher valued assets, the early detection device is too risky to rely upon alone.

 

Machinery of higher price ranges ofter have to deal with rougher processes and unreliable loads. Therefore potential damages are more significant, lead times are extended, and cost (of downtime) higher. Other than a permanent online system – which comes at a higher cost – there is no replacement for manual data collection. We therefore recommend a combination of (premium) sensor technology and inspections for this category.