In the age of lean, condition monitoring of capital equipment is an obvious aid to efficient operation, as opposed to waiting for something to break down. As Chris Haines, Rockwell director of customer support and maintenance UK and Ireland observes, "in an effort to improve business performance and meet shareholder expectations, many engineering, operations and maintenance departments are faced with the reality of having to do more with less. A manufacturer who views maintenance operations as a long-term investment can reap the benefits of significant returns and process improvements".
