Definition
Condition monitoring is the continuous or scheduled observation of an asset's physical condition using measured signals such as vibration, temperature, oil quality, or motor current. It is the observation layer that condition-based and predictive maintenance decisions draw on, rather than a maintenance strategy in itself.
Key facts
- Focuses on observing and recording condition signals, not on deciding when to act: that decision belongs to a maintenance strategy such as condition-based or predictive maintenance.
- Can be continuous (permanently installed sensors) or periodic (route-based measurements).
- Typical signals include vibration, temperature, oil analysis results, and motor current.
- Provides the data foundation for anomaly detection and predictive analytics, not the analysis itself.
How does Condition monitoring work in maintenance?
Condition monitoring covers the sensors, routes, and systems used to regularly capture an asset's physical condition (vibration levels, temperatures, oil condition, electrical signatures) and store that data with its asset and time context for later review.
What does Condition monitoring require?
Condition-based maintenance is the strategy that triggers work when a measured condition crosses a threshold; condition monitoring is the ongoing observation that supplies the measurement it reacts to. Anomaly detection is an analytical step applied to that data to flag deviations from expected behavior automatically: condition monitoring is the data collection layer underneath both.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How is an asset's condition observed on an ongoing basis?
Through condition monitoring: continuous or periodic measurement of signals such as vibration, temperature, oil quality, or motor current, recorded with asset and time context to support later condition-based or predictive decisions.
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