The definition of Predictive maintenance (PdM) is techniques that are designed to help determine the condition of in-service equipment in order to predict when maintenance should be performed. This approach promises cost savings over routine or time-based preventive maintenance because tasks are performed only when warranted.

With that said, implementing some simple training with basic reliability tools you can outfit your plant personnel is it that an operator or craftsmen and they can, in turn, find the issues that lead to the majority of unplanned events. Outfitted with a vibration pen, temperature gun (pyrometer), and ultrasonic leak detection, etc. equipment they can find the early defects and take corrective action long before the issue becomes a more serious problem.

Using these simple tools does not replace your more complex reliability tools, however, they can compliment your condition monitoring program and provide early warning detection of an impending issue.