​

Jerry Peerbolte, J. Peerbolte & Associates
and
Mark Hoske, Control Engineering

The 2019 edition of EASA’s Industry Research, as presented at the 2019 EASA Convention, focuses on feedback from the end-user customer base.

Some of the critical topics explored include:

• Repair vs. replace considerations for electric motors
• Trends in the purchase of replacement motors
• Adoption of more preventive and predictive (vs. reactive) maintenance strategies
• Future outlook for outsourcing of maintenance services
• Key criteria considered when selecting outside maintenance service providers
• The value of EASA’s Accreditation Program
• Challenges and opportunities associated with condition monitoring, Industrial Internet of Things and artificial intelligence in a plant maintenance environment

Presented by Ashutosh Kumar
Karsten Moholt AS

Learn how a fellow EASA service center interpreted different maintenance philosophies and put their own development in that curve. Their evolution has gone from workshop to predictive maintenance and beyond–to proactive maintenance, including 3D scan/print and the Internet of Things (IoT)

This recording addresses how the modern toolbox has changed–from an adjustable spanner (wrench) to sophisticated sensors. IoT is just a new tool in the box.

Bram Corne
Miembro del Comité Técnico de Servicios
Orbits
Kor trijk, Belgium 

Sin exagerar, los sistemas de motores eléctricos desempeñan un papel fundamental en nuestras operaciones industriales, ya que actúan como el corazón de numerosos procesos. Las bombas, compresores, ventiladores y otros tipos de movimientos mecánicos son cruciales para nuestras actividades industriales. En consecuencia, la salud de estos motores influye directamente en la confiabilidad operativa y la longevidad del ecosistema industrial más amplio. En una cultura que valora la confiabilidad, la previsibilidad del tiempo de inactividad, la disponibilidad de los repuestos, la empleabilidad de los técnicos y la limitación de los daños consecuentes son primordiales. Reconocer esto resalta la necesidad de evaluar la salud de los motores eléctricos en operación. Siguiendo el ejemplo del campo médico, nuestro objetivo es predecir de forma proactiva fallos catastróficos antes que ocurran. Al hacerlo, es posible evitar que se produzcan o progresen. Por lo tanto, la integración de las mediciones y los diagnósticos adecuados para los motores eléctricos puede mejorar significativamente el rendimiento general de los activos.

Bram Corne
Technical Services Committee Member
Orbits
Kor trijk, Belgium 

Without exaggeration, electric motor systems play a pivotal role in our industrial operations, serving as the heartbeat of numerous processes. Pumps, compressors, fans and other types of mechanical movement are crucial to our industrial activities. Consequently, the health of these motors directly influences the operational reliability and longevity of the broader industrial ecosystem. In a culture that values reliability, the predictability of downtime, the availability of spare parts, the employability of technicians, and the limitation of consequential damage are paramount. Acknowledging this underscores the necessity for performing online health assessments of electric motors. Mirroring the medical field, we aim to proactively predict catastrophic failures before they occur. By doing so, it is feasible to prevent failures from occurring or progressing. Hence, integrating the appropriate measurements and diagnostics for electric motors can significantly enhance overall asset performance.

Asset Health Assessment goes beyond traditional maintenance approaches by offering a holistic perspective on an electric motor’s condition. This method employs a comprehensive suite of diagnostic tools and methodologies, beginning with the creation of an exhaustive overview of the entire system. This is achieved by gathering information, briefing operators and conducting visual inspections. Beyond these fundamentals, technologies such as Electrical Signature Analysis (ESA), Vibration Analysis, Ultrasound Analysis, Thermal Analysis, among others, can furnish deeper insights into the condition of the electric motor (Figure 1). This article primarily focuses on the benefits of incorporating ESA into the existing diagnostic toolkit.

Gene Vogel
EASA Pump & Vibration Specialist

This presentation provides an overview of common predictive technologies and information about applying them correctly.  While providing break-fix service and analysis is not uncommon for a service center’s field service team, the industry is pushing more towards failure prevention methods and testing and this requires a shift in tools and thought processes. Topics include:

• Ultrasonic analysis
• Vibration analysis
• Oil analysis
• Thermography

This presentation is best for technicians, field service, shop managers and engineering staff.

Disclaimer: All video captions and translations are AI-generated.
EASA is not responsible for any inaccuracies that may occur.

Presented by members of EASA's Ad Hoc Committee on Emerging Technologies
January 11, 2023

This discussion highlights EASA’s overview guide on remote condition monitoring and answers questions from members on the booklet and, and remote condition monitoring in general. Items covered include:

• Maintenance philosophies
• Business models
• Software/data platform
• Hardware selection

Presented by Titos Anastassacos
Si2 Partners LLP

This presentation addresses how technology and digitization are changing our understanding of value and the impact on technical service markets and businesses. It also gives pointers on how companies, particularly medium and smaller firms, can prepare for the (near) future. 

Key technologies driving digitization

• Miniaturization, sensing and connectivity
• Artificial Intelligence (machine learning) and Big Data
• Industrial Internet of Things
• 3D printing
• Augmented reality

Platforms in industry

• The end of product markets as we know them?
• Services everywhere
• Platform economics–changing the value paradigms: Products or commodities?

The future of the technical/industrial service business

• Dematerialization: Falling costs and falling prices
• Changing markets and customer requirements–Volumes?
• OEMs: What are they up to? Friend or foe?
• What strategies for independent service providers?
  • Understand your assets
  • Networked cooperation–Flex capacities–Use YOUR data
  • Pool tech investments and broaden markets
  • Rethink your offerings; the world has changed

By Bjorn Mjatveit
Technical Education Committee Member
EMR Consulting AS

The electromechanical repair and service industry has evolved over decades by reacting to the various changes in the dynamic landscape. These changes are apparent in parallel with the development of evolving maintenance philosophies:   

• Reactive (Run to failure)  
• Preventive maintenance (calendar-based)  
• Predictive (condition-based)   
• Reliability-centered maintenance (RCM)  

Many service centers established after the Second World War started with breakdown services where the customers' reactive maintenance plan released large volumes of rewinds and repairs, resulting in lost production and increased downtime.  

Years later, the plant owners (customer base) adopted a new maintenance philosophy: preventive maintenance. This reduced the number of rewinds and large repairs. As a natural consequence of reduced repairs, our industry had to adjust. Many service centers started to offer field services. The scope of work shrank and required maintenance that could be done on-site. Consequently, the service center staff had to be trained and approved for field services.   

In the mid-90s, condition monitoring equipment became cheaper and more accessible for service centers. At the same time, the customer base was ready to upgrade its maintenance philosophy to predictive maintenance. That reduced the number of larger repairs again and further extended the service interval.  

Again, did the rotating service industry adapt to the changes in the market and follow its customers' new requirements? Many service centers established their own condition monitoring departments, and some trained their personnel without organizational changes. This gave the customers a higher service value. The service centers trained their existing repair personnel, many of whom already had hands-on experience and could correlate analysis findings with equipment knowledge. This practice provides the equipment owner extra value in the troubleshooting and repair process.

Justin Hatfield
Ad Hoc Committee on Emerging Technologies Chair
HECO - All Systems Go!

In 2019, the EASA International Board of Directors approved the formation of an Ad Hoc Committee on Emerging Technologies to address the impact of the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), Industry 4.0, remote condition monitoring and whatever associated “buzz words” you can think of.

The committee’s purpose is simple: to research IIoT as it applies to the electric motor and rotating apparatus industry and determine what role, if any, EASA should take. The committee also works to determine the best ways to keep members up to date on this topic.

Since then, the committee has regularly met (via Zoom, before it was popular) to discuss various emerging technology topics and trends. Committee members have led presentations and open forums at EASA conventions to help guide members down this developing path.

Over the summer, the committee considered next steps and decided to conduct a survey. We felt this was the best way to get feedback directly from EASA members.

Presented by Chris Wiseman
Nidec Motor Corp.

What is the Industrial Internet of Things, what growth stage is it in, and how might it impact the repair industry? This recording covers:

• Internet of Things (IoT) definition
• How IoT will impact motor maintenance practices
• What specific motor data can be collected and analyzed in real time?
• Applications most likely to adopt IoT
• IoT challenges and opportunities for the motor repair and sales industry

Bjorn Mjaveit
Technical Education Committee Member
EMR Consulting AS
Bergen, Norway

Industry 4.0 and now Industry 5.0 gives us yet again new trends and interpretations of how the world will develop. Some call Industry 5.0 the revenge of the humans when they are taken into account.

The last couple of years, we have all heard a lot about digitalization, sensors, artificial intelligence, sustainability and machine learning. But what does it mean for us? In this article, I will focus on the sensors and how they are linked to the electromechanical industry.