Frequently Asked Questions
Please click on any question below to show the answer.
My equipment is specialized. How can you troubleshoot equipment you have never seen?
You would be surprised at the diversity of equipment we work on. With over 300 active customers, we service gas plants, refineries, breweries, asphalt plants, confectioners, plastic extrusion plants, CD manufacturers and the list goes on. In fact, it is our vast experience with rotating equipment that gives us such an edge. While you may be experiencing a problem with a given machine, we have likely seen a similar problem solved in another industry. This cross industry experience is invaluable and a tremendous asset when trying to solve problems.
I am not trained in Vibration Analysis or Infrared Thermography. Will I understand the information?
Vibtech immediately realized it was in business primarily to get information to our customers. It was obvious that if the information was not in an easy-to-read format, it would be of little use to the customer. Additionally, if the information was cloaked behind technical jargon it would defeat it’s purpose. Therefore, Vibtech adopted a philosophy that all reports should be written in a style that would be clear, concise and easily understood by laymen.
As technology changed and allowed for the use of standard phrases attached to computer ‘codes’, Vibtech again addressed the question of whether or not computer generated reports would serve our customers’ needs. The answer was no! Consequently, all of our report comments are ‘composed’ by our analysts to clearly spell out their concerns..
Will your Predictive Maintenance Program satisfy my TS-16949 requirements?
Yes it will. However, that having been said, it should be noted that the purpose of the TS-16949 requirement is to ensure delivery of your product to the automotive manufacturer. This means that just having a program does not automatically meet the requirements.
You must have systems in place to ensure the maintenance recommendations are followed up and repairs are done. We are committed to this process and will partner with you to ensure your program’s success.
Will a Predictive Maintenance Program interrupt production?
In almost every case the answer is no! In fact, it is usually a prerequisite that production be up and running.
We want to check your equipment under normal operating conditions. There is usually no disruptive impact on production.
Do I have to prepare for your Predictive Maintenance visits?
Usually not beyond identifying which machines you want checked.
Our analysts quickly learn where your equipment is and go about their business without interfering with maintenance or production schedules.
How do I know when to call you?
Obviously, if a machine suddenly becomes noisy or starts to vibrate excessively, you should call.
But you should also be aware of more subtle symptoms. Are you changing bearings or seals too frequently? Has the machine’s performance and output decreased? These are the most common ‘red flags’ that could be indicative of mechanical problems.