If you want to minimize downtime costs and create more output, think about predictive maintenance programs that you can employ in your processes. 

Conor Flaherty of Reliability & Predictive Maintenance Services explains the four major areas where predictive maintenance can be applied. 

Vibration Analysis 

Using high-resolution programs, they pull the equipment apart based on the frequency spectrums. They look at individual components for early detection of what's going on. If there is a maintenance activity, they bring it back to full health. They could also build maintenance strategies and targets based on what they see and what is failing to prevent you from shutting the whole line down. 

Infrared Thermography

This is an awesome technology that's getting cheaper and cheaper every day. These are portable handheld thermal cameras that are great to put in the hands of your technicians. They're not high-resolution, but they're great to couple with a high-resolution program. 

From a risk mitigation standpoint, if you're not doing infrared thermography on your electrical cabinets, you're missing some potentials for some pretty major failures, and also the risks of fire, which are never good in a factory. This technology can also be used with steam traps and heating systems.

Ultrasonic Technology

The use of this technology allows you to get the perfect amount of grease into a bearing. This can also be used in compressed air leaks and stop energy waste in the manufacturing process. 

Oil Analysis

They employ different strategies and help you find ways to keep the oil alive longer. They look at the numbers on paper and help make the decision on what's better for the customer. 

Some other technologies that come into play:

• Motor testing - done online and offline

• Integrity of wires

• Desiccant breathers

• Color-coding for lubricant

• Critical chemical storage

• Precision alignment and precision balancing