Conditioning monitoring (CM) is an indispensable tool of any predictive maintenance system. In every successful industry, a concept of condition monitoring is employed to enhance reliability of machinery. As in every industry, there is business process flow normally term as “SIPOC” thus; System of operation, Input of raw materials, Processing of the raw materials, Output of the process and selling products to customers for revenue.
All these can only be achieved by integration of Predictive Maintenance (Condition Monitoring) techniques applied to both the industrial and transportation sections to ascertain and predicts machinery health conditions; these techniques include, Temperature Monitoring and Infrared Thermography (TMIT), Visual Inspections (VI), Lubrication Management and Oil Particulate Analysis (LMOA), Acoustic emission (Airborne Ultrasound), Vibration Analysis and diagnostics (VA), Ultrasound Testing (Material thickness/flaw testing), Model-based voltage and current systems (MBVI systems), Motor Condition Monitoring and Motor Current signature Analysis (MCMSA).
The use of condition monitoring techniques allows maintenance departments and field engineers to make decisions and schedule work and other actions to be taken The idea behind condition monitoring is to avoid the consequences of failure
Today, there are more than twenty (25) different types of non-intrusive Condition Monitoring (CM) techniques but the most broadly used technique for rotating machinery, however, is still vibration monitoring and this – linked to sophisticated data gathering and analysis systems – forms the basis for many of today’s CM programmes.
Takeaways
1. Types of Condition Monitoring Techniques
2. When to employ those techniques in the field of work and why
3. Benefits derived from Condition Monitoring Techniques

I have completed a cooperative experience with a BSc (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering from Cape Coast Technical University, Affiliate to North Carolina, USA. Over nine (9) years of hard work, with satisfactory conduct, diligently adhering to work ethics, systems, operational procedures, and taking Occupational Health, Safety, Environmental policies at heart; as field condition monitoring engineer from grass-root Inspection, through resource development, training of field crew, and supervision of Condition Monitoring techniques and liaising by making engineering inputs with other engineering personnel and relevant stakeholders which promotes cost saving. I have previously worked with AngloGold Ashanti, Iduapriem Mine Ltd. as Total Fluid Management Champion (TFM), where I took responsibility to Perform periodic audit on lubrication management and conformance with site TFM program, Coordinate and schedule TFM training for plant personnel, Perform or assist in Root Cause Analysis of lubrication related failures and problems, Serve as a representative at maintenance, operations, safety or other meetings where significant decision regarding lubrication are made and Identify hazards and initiate process of rectifying them I acted the role as Condition Monitoring Supervisor with the following responsibilities, Ensure thermography inspections are carried out on Overhead Power Lines & Substations, Switchgears, Distribution Boards and Fuse Boards, Ensure by carrying out precision alignment on machinery drive trains, Ensure stroboscopic inspection on Open Gear Lubrication (OGL) system, Collect and analyze vibration data on Mill Drive Trains, Ensure Ultrasonic thickness test on materials, Sample and analyze oil and fuel and initiate the process of rectifying the contamination