In the last decade or so, we’ve seen a fast-paced implementation of Internet-driven technology into our daily lives. It can be overwhelming to think about.
Remember the last time you made a cross-country trip without your GPS or mobile phone navigation app? The thought of using just a paper map (or stopping to ask for directions) is practically foreign at this point.
The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is opening new doors for companies when it comes to condition monitoring for predictive maintenance. Like GPS has done to paper maps, mobile devices powered with monitoring software are giving users a more efficient and accurate solution for condition monitoring…and letting them leave the clipboard on the shelf. We’re seeing a number of industries, such as manufacturing, food & beverage, and the oil & gas market, employ IIoT solutions to maintain optimal product quality, improve equipment reliability and increase labor efficiency.
Six drivers for condition monitoring
We’ve identified six ways IIoT is creating new opportunities for process and asset condition monitoring.
1. Identify issues before they escalate
This is a big one. Even the smallest issue can snowball into a serious problem if it goes unnoticed for too long. Continuous manufacturing processes have any number of single points of failure that can halt production. Advanced condition monitoring solutions will catch those performance fluctuations, allowing users to address those sudden changes that require immediate attention.
2. Reduce unplanned downtime
Nobody can afford to wait for something to break, nor can they waste time troubleshooting when a system goes offline. Condition monitoring applications give companies an efficient, accurate and reliable solution to keep them up and running with a clear picture of their system’s overall health.
3. Decrease maintenance costs
Customized alerts forewarn users of condition changes that could force a piece of equipment to work harder, thereby increasing energy use and wear. Using an advanced condition monitoring solution to ensure assets and processes are running at optimum levels helps users make adjustments when needed to avoid costly maintenance routines.
4. Avoid hazardous environments
By connecting sensors to monitoring devices wirelessly, maintenance staff can get the diagnostic information they need without entering areas of a facility that are potentially dangerous. This eliminates the need to shut down those areas for monitoring.
5. Better analytics for better decision-making
Advanced condition monitoring gives users an excellent picture of how their assets and processes are operating. Big Data provides a wealth of analytic information that helps users make informed decisions on processes and the day-to-day running of facilities to help maximize ROI.
6. Improve labor efficiency
Traditionally, condition monitoring takes a team of staff working to monitor each asset and process over an extended time period, expending man-hours and impacting a company’s bottom line. IIoT-enabled condition monitoring solutions allows fewer staff to quickly monitor more points of importance with increased accuracy, helping them cover more ground in the same amount of time, or even faster.
If your company can benefit from an advanced condition monitoring solution, Parker has developed several state-of-the-art solutions that will address your specific needs. Read more on our Condition Monitoring Website