Integrating Fluid Analysis with CMMS & Business Systems (+Case Studies)

Integration Possibilities

Just like your phone, computer or tablet; Engines, Hydraulics, Gearboxes, and other types of industrial equipment are now connected devices. This means that the integration possibilities are endless in relation to the Industrial Internet of Things (IIOT). However, this does not mean that this is common practise in many companies’ maintenance and reliability programs. Many companies and Equipment Manufacturers continue to manage and operate data in individual silos which is both inefficient and lacks the prescriptive nature that integrated data can provide to the user.

Why Connect

Depending on your industry, how you import, measure, store, and interpret data will differ according to the data you are gathering. Mining Excavators will use Telematics to measure certain parameters related to the equipment and operating environment. An industrial gearbox may be monitored by several Condition Monitoring techniques, including Vibration, Thermography, Ultrasound as well as Fluid Analysis. With all of this data stored in either an Off-the-shelf, or bespoke CMMS system, alongside additional data from sensors or management data. Thirdly, many organisations manage multiple data streams in an ERP type system. Regardless of what industry or data management system you use, the connections between these data streams and your Fluid Analysis results are inherently possible with the technologies and services available today. Integrating as many data points as possible will improve operational efficiency, lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and increase Equipment Reliability.

1.2 Understanding the Value

Most users will not understand the true value of data connectivity until they see the benefit for themselves. Many companies operate in such a way that, ‘it has always been like this’ – and are used to working in multiple systems and manually cross-checking multiple types of data. However, the true value of integrating data can be seen when all data is viewed together, in the same system, on the same screen, making decisions quicker and more accurate based on the information available. Take an example of an Oil Analysis report showing Fuel Dilution, historically the laboratory would suggest checking several aspects of the Engine or operation to confirm the issue, but if this data is connected to integrated systems, the Telematic data may show that Injector No.2 is faulty, leading the operator to accurately understand the Root Cause of the fuel dilution in the Engine. This results in a more prescriptive interpretation of the sample data and a more accurate recommendation to the user on the reason for issue.

1.3 Capabilities

Once the connection is made, the possibilities of utilising the data are endless. The data can be used in different ways depending on the individual requirements of the users. As well as integrating the results from Fluid Analysis Samples, the connections can also be used for

• Sample Submission
• Manage Equipment
• Generate Maintenance Work Orders
• Provide ‘real-time’ information to the lab
• Set Notifications on certain results
• Create Sampling Schedules