Contracting high technology services for increased profitability

Manufacturing and facilities maintenance organizations around the world are proving that overall profitability can be increased through the successful application of high technology tools for condition monitoring in the form of predictive maintenance. Vibration analysis, oil analysis, infrared thermography, and electric motor current testing, just to name a few, have proven to be valuable tools for assessing machine and support equipment condition. Information provided by these technologies allows plant managers and maintenance supervisors the opportunity to increase plant availability and reliability, ultimately leading to improvement in the bottom line - profitability. In the past, many companies have made sizable investments in instrumentation, software, personnel. and training in order to implement and maintain the predictive maintenance philosophy. Many of these same companies have now eliminated or ''watered-down'' the commitment to these practices, frequently because of the ''perception'' of diminishing returns. In the early stages of implementation return on investment is sizable and easily recognized. As time passes, the noticeable return diminishes and a false sense of security sets in. Phrases like ''downsizing'', ''getting lean'', and ''re-engineering the corporation'' have become commonplace in business today. Many companies are realizing that contracting high technology services is the logical alternative or supplement for long-term success and return on investment. Contract service organizations can minimize cost and provide flexibility associated with personnel, management, training and the recurring capital investment in the purchase of new, or replacement of obsolete instrumentation and software. It is now the responsibility of the contract service organization to provide return-on-investment (ROI) at a competitive price. Criteria for choosing a contract service organization as well as measuring their performance will be the emphasis of the discussion, supplemented with an overview of the Reliability Based Maintenance(TM) philosophy and the associated technologies.