There are various maintenance plans available on the market. They fall into one of the following categories:

1. Breakdown Maintenance (BM): 

This strategy is based on fixing or replacing the equipment as required. There is no periodic maintenance system in place, and repairs are performed when the equipment no longer functions.  This "fix when fail" strategy was probably acceptable at the start of the industrial revolution when machinery was very simple, and inexpensive by today's standards. In today's finance driven society, however, it is not appropriate, as once the machine has broken down, its is too late and the costs mount up.

2. Preventative Maintenance (PM): 

This more advanced strategy is based on performing periodic strip-outs, tear-downs, inspections and on some occasions, parts replacements, regardless of their need. The strategies are typically derived from the original manufacturer's recommendations, culminated from past equipment failures. This strategic approach was introduced by the aircraft industry which replaces or overhauls components regardless of their condition. An effective but very costly maintenance approach.

3. Predictive Maintenance (PdM): 

A predictive strategy that uses monitoring to detect imminent equipment failure. Items are repaired or changed out when the results identify the fault. Depending on the significance of the fault the equipment may require unforeseen shutdown whilst urgent repairs are performed. Maintenance costs are reduced in comparison to Preventative strategy, as components are only replaced when pending failures are detected. Productivity can be maintained because if an impending failure can be detected early enough machine downtime can be scheduled and compensated for.

4. Proactive Maintenance (PaM):

Our Zero Downtime plan. A modern strategy for today's sophisticated machinery. Proactive Maintenance concentrates on the root cause analysis instead of the symptoms of wear.  Using a control-based approach, monitoring at regular intervals detects trends that are then corrected at the root cause level, ensuring extended longevity of the equipment. Proactive maintenance is like an invisible spanner keeping productivity at its best and costs at their lowest. Hydraulic filters and breathers are replaced only when exhausted and no longer provide adequate protection. To use a human analogy, imagine the benefits of pinpointing and eliminating a terminal condition before any obvious symptoms materialise. This is one of the major benefits of our Zero Downtime Proactive Maintenance Strategy.

Machine to Human Analogy

Root Cause Analysis Monitoring is a process that provides warning for imminent potential systems failures and guides maintenance tasks. The object of this monitoring is to keep the machinery operational for longer and therefore reduce overall costs.

Root Cause Analysis sees changes in the condition of a machine and uses this as a tool to pre-empt potential failure and highlights trend changes as an indicator of deteriorating conditions.