What Are "Predictive Maintenance" and "IoT"?

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  Ms. Ori. Recently, I've been hearing the words "predictive maintenance" and "IoT" a lot at exhibitions. What do they mean? I've heard that there are 2 types of conservation, "prediction" and "prevention," but I don't really understand the difference.

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  I think it would be a good idea to start by explaining the concept of conservation.
  Until now, the mainstream approach has been "breakdown maintenance," in which repairs are made every time when a failure occurs and the line stops.

  In "breakdown maintenance," if we can restore the line by simply replacing the broken parts, the damage will be minimal.
  However, it is a big deal if the replacement does not restore the system.
  If we don't know the cause of the failure and the equipment is not running for a long period of time, it will cause a time lag in production.

  Therefore, the concepts of "predictive maintenance" and "preventive maintenance" to avoid problems before they occur are becoming mainstream these days.

  

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  I see. The purpose of predictive and preventive maintenance is to eliminate equipment downtime.

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  Now that you know the purpose, let me explain the difference between "predictive maintenance" and "preventive maintenance."

  "Predictive maintenance" is not about replacing parts after the failure, but about constantly monitoring the condition of the equipment and responding when there are signs of change.

  On the other hand, "preventive maintenance" involves deciding in advance when to replace parts based on the estimated life of the part manufacturer and the operating conditions of the equipment.
  And when the time comes, you replace the parts even if they are not damaged.
  It might be easier to imagine "preventive maintenance" as "going to the dentist regularly to prevent tooth decay."

  • Predictive Maintenance

    Do daily self-checks and go to the dentist when something changes
    -

    

  • Preventive Maintenance

    Go to the dentist regularly, once every three months
    -

    

  But, you know, in the case of "preventive maintenance," there is a risk that it will break down before the time for replacement comes.
  If you want to keep your equipment from stopping, I would recommend "predictive maintenance" rather than "preventive maintenance."

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  I see. "Predictive maintenance" not only eliminates the uncertainty of when to replace a product, but it also has many advantages, such as the ability to respond when signs of failure appear. Now that we have an image, what should we actually do to promote "predictive maintenance"?

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  In order to "predictive maintenance," you should first note that it is important to collect data on a daily basis and visualize it.
  This will allow you to notice any changes in the condition (signs).

  As a way to efficiently collect various data, the "IoT" is attracting attention, as Vex mentioned at the beginning. A familiar example is health management based on healthcare data such as activity meters.

  

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  Ah, I do that! You can see the measured data as a graph on your smartphone. I can also compare the data with others who were exercising with me. …Is this “IoT”? What does "IoT" actually stand for?

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  "IoT" stands for "Internet of Things." It is a mechanism that allows you to monitor and control various things through the Internet. So, the calories you consumed today are a type of this thing.

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  The little "visualization" that we do in our daily lives is actually deeply related to "IoT." I didn't realize how familiar it was.

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  These days, it seems you can use your smartphone to see the temperature of the room and turn on the air conditioner.

  In this way, not only "visualization" but also a system to "control" by referring to the collected data is already beginning to be used as a part of our daily lives around us.

  But it's a little complicated to think about even controlling it, so if you're interested, you might want to start by visualizing it to capture the changes.

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  Well, let's think about this in terms of factory equipment... In other words, collecting and visualizing data on motors and other parts via the Internet will lead to "predictive maintenance" of equipment.
  Are there any Oriental Motor products that are useful for "visualization"?

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  If you are going to introduce to the customers, I would recommend the αSTEP AZ Series.
  We can monitor not only position and speed, but also temperature, load, travel distance, and power supply status. Just by replacing the motors and drivers in your existing equipment with AZ Series, you can take the first step toward "visualization."

  "Visualization," "predictive maintenance, and IoT application examples" are explained in more detail in “FAQ “What’s the Difference Between “Predictive Maintenance” and “IoT”?”.

• 

  I see! I'm going to collect the data just like an "IoT"!

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