Trend Analysis

Most of those dealing with maintenance and operation of machines will recognize more than an element of truth in the Murphy's laws pertaining to maintenance stated as follows

• If an equipment can fail, it will; and
• Failure will usually occur at the most inconvenient time.

We agree that occurrences of failures cannot be avoided completely but failures during operation can be reduced through effective maintenance management programs provided the plant engineer can predict the occurrence of failures. The trend analysis is the best tool for the plant engineer in preliminary estimation in this regard. Further, if cost or frequency failures are beyond a certain predetermined level of tolerance it is better to replace partly or completely as the case may be deemed fit.

Objectives

After studying this unit, you should be able to

• Analyse the failure patterns of a given equipment,
• Distinguish if the equipment is repairable or replaceable (non-repairable),
• Understand the failure-cost analysis,
• Identify and determine suitable replacement policy, if the equipment is replaceable type, and
• Understand and interpret the failure trend of the equipment if it is repairable type.