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by Chris Chiappinelli, MA Editorial Staff   | Abstract: | Jay Lee and his Center for Intelligent Maintenance Systems are changing the rules of maintenance by helping manufacturers predict the likelihood of equipment failure using a toolkit of algorithms. |
Most manufacturers tend to the maintenance of their plants with all the eagerness of a high school kid cleaning his room. But give that teenager 20 bucks for the task, and the room might just turn out sparkling.
Jay Lee, director of the Center for Intelligent Maintenance Systems (IMS) and scholar and professor at the University of Cincinnati, wants to dangle a similar incentive in front of manufacturers, with lots of extra zeros for good measure.
The routine upkeep of machines, bearings, drives, motors, and factory floor systems is intended to keep equipment in peak operating condition and eliminate costly downtime. However, maintenance programs too often involve lots of guesswork: Change a tool or part after a set time period, regardless of the actual condition of the equipment.
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