TPi July 2017

Condition monitoring for competitive advantage By Larry Rumbol, marine condition monitoring manager, Parker Kittiwake, UK

This includes anything from sophisticated online sensor technology to simple on-board test kits. A well-trained engineer knows that through a combination of these online and offline tools, operators can arm themselves with the knowledge they need to avoid accelerated wear, prevent catastrophic damage and safeguard against downtime. By using modern condition monitoring technology to simplify everyday maintenance observations and provide advance warning of required work, it is possible to maximise uptime. Providing one example in the marine market, the Parker Kittiwake Condition Monitoring Starter Kit combines the Parker Kittiwake DigiCell (water in oil and residual base number), the Holroyd MHC-Bearing Checker (rotating equipment/bearing condition), and a PC tablet with a condition monitoring routine and log book pre-loaded on it to assist with the recording of results, to simplify the protection of vulnerable equipment and prevent failure. It utilises modern condition monitoring technology to simplify everyday maintenance observations and provide advance warning of possible maintenance requirements. Using deskilled, intuitive technology, the starter kit empowers crew members with data that enables them to take corrective action and safeguard against potentially catastrophic damage in the worst case, and allows them to prioritise everyday maintenance to maximise operational efficiency. Too often condition monitoring equipment provides meaningless data; the Kittiwake kit deconstructs that and allows anyone to make immediate judgements whether to act (intervene to lubricate, dismantle or maintain), or to take the equally cost-effective action of doing nothing. The implementation of a rigorous quality control system is essential for ensuring high quality performance. Yet although the role of maintenance in the long-term profitability of a business is more frequently recognised these days, the issues relating to the quality of maintenance output can still retain outdated features that have become conventional through decades of use. In today’s low margin era, when cost and risk are at the top of operators’ minds, investing in equipment uptime and performance becomes paramount. The majority of the marine market is still taking a planned approach to maintenance. However, the benefits of reliability- centred maintenance are steadily emerging and are being lauded by shipowners, class societies and insurers alike.

Parker Kittiwake knows this because for more than two decades it has designed, developed and manufactured market-leading condition monitoring and test equipment for lube oil, hydraulic oil, fluids and fuels. In fact, engineers the world over use Parker Kittiwake equipment to gain vital insights into the health of their vessels’ engines and machinery, and to accurately measure fuel quality and compatibility. When companies emphasise the upkeep of their machinery, the lifetime of infrastructure significantly improves, costs are lowered and environmental impacts from faulty equipment are minimised. For a growing number, the way that they are accomplishing this rapidly and cost-effectively is through proactive condition monitoring. Condition monitoring practice has evolved significantly, from the days of engineers physically examining equipment and relying on their hard-won experience and intuition, to the full range of tools available today. C ondition monitoring has a key role to play in every maintenance programme and can be a valuable tool for optimising safety standards, maximising operational efficiency and enhancing profitability. But to do that you need the right people, processes and resources available to maintain the asset in a fit-for- service condition. This can be done most reliably, safely and cost- effectively by employing a combination of online and offline condition monitoring tools.

Parker Kittiwake’s Condition Monitoring Starter Kit combines the DigiCell, the Holroyd MHC-Bearing Checker and a PC tablet

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July 2017 TUBE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL