ABSTRACT
The energy consumption is the largest total life cycle cost in all energy using equipment and has the largest potential for significant savings. When a company purchases a new energy consuming plant or machinery for use within the business, once it is installed, tested and commissioned it is handed over to the business for normal operation. If the equipment were allowed to deteriorate further, the maintenance options would be significantly reduced to continue to operate to failure, overhaul, adjust online settings or change the equipment. Most business takes a reactive approach to maintenance. A more proactive style of maintenance is to smoke out potential signs of failure. This may involve routine inspection, routine service and overhaul. Ultimately, a balance between maintenance cost and the financial benefit of maintenance has to be achieved. An excessively far-sighted approach to maintenance will lead to an expensive maintenance regime without the associated benefits to the business.
