Why You Should Report Ultrasound in Spartakus APM

Ultrasonic tools enable early detection of potential failures and helps operator and technicians in maintaining equipment by ensuring proper lubrication and greasing.

Ultrasound works by identifying ultrasonic sounds that human ear can’t hear, such as air leaks. Since, many organizations struggle with capturing and leveraging ultrasound data effectively.

Spartakus APM provides a centralized and structured solution for ultrasound reporting, addressing common challenges associated with traditional reporting methods.

What is Ultrasound?

Ultrasound is a condition monitoring technique that detects higher frequency sounds. It is commonly used in industrial settings to identify:

• Air leaks detection in compressed air and gas systems.
• Mechanical faults in bearings and rotating equipment.
• Lubrication issues that could lead to premature failure.

Many equipment failures begin with subtle ultrasonic signals. Early detection of these anomalies allows maintenance teams to detect potential failure before the arise.

Challenges of Traditional Ultrasound Reporting

Many companies conduct ultrasound inspections but face difficulties in reporting and acting on the collected data. Common challenges include:

1. No Standardized Inspection Guidelines

• Technicians often rely on personal experience, leading to inconsistencies in how leaks and mechanical issues are detected and classified.
• Without structured reporting, people may overlook or misdiagnose critical anomalies.

2. Lack of Data Prioritization

• Reports may contain large volumes of raw ultrasonic data without clear prioritization.
• Equipment with no previous issues lacks historical references, making trend analysis difficult.

3. Reports Are Long and Hard to Analyze

• Key findings can be buried in lengthy, complex reports.
• Maintenance teams spend excessive time searching for critical insights rather than addressing problems.

4. No Standardized Categorization for Faults

• Each defect (e.g., bearing failure, lubrication issue, air leak) may be described differently across inspections, making comparisons challenging.

5. Limited Accessibility and Integration

• Reports are often saved in PDFs or different databases. This makes it hard to compare ultrasound data with other monitoring methods.
• Information remains isolated instead of integrating into CMMS or APM systems for effective asset management.

6. No Visibility to Relevant Stakeholders

• Maintenance, operations, and management teams may not have access to critical insights, causing delays in decision-making and issue resolution.
• Without clear visibility, important actions may be missed or delayed, leading to increased risk and downtime.

Benefits of Reporting Ultrasound in Spartakus APM

By integrating ultrasound reporting into Spartakus APM, organizations can overcome these challenges and unlock significant benefits:

1. Centralized and Structured Reporting

• All ultrasound data is stored in one platform, eliminating scattered reports.
• Standardized templates ensure consistency in inspections and reporting.
• Anomalies are categorized with failure modes and severity levels, improving decision-making.

2. Cross-Referencing Ultrasound with Other Condition Monitoring Data

• Ultrasound is more effective when combined with thermography, vibration analysis, and oil diagnostics.
• Multi-factor failure detection helps prevent unplanned downtime.
• A holistic view of asset health enables proactive maintenance strategies.

3. Faster and More Actionable Insights

• Clear, structured reports allow quick identification of critical issues.
• The Asset Health Dashboard provides an instant overview of the asset health, and you can easily pinpoint anomalies such as ultrasound alerts.
• Enables better prioritization of corrective actions.

4. Integration with the CMMS

• Findings can be directly converted into work orders within Spartakus APM.
• Maintenance actions linked to ultrasound anomalies are tracked for improved follow-up and continuous improvement.

Conclusion

Structured ultrasound reporting is essential for predictive maintenance, enabling early detection and prevention of potential failures. Spartakus APM streamlines data collection, analysis, and decision-making, helping organizations enhance asset reliability and reduce operational costs.

By centralizing ultrasound reports in Spartakus APM, maintenance teams can maximize the value of their condition monitoring efforts, ensuring better asset health and optimized maintenance strategies.

Raphael Tremblay,
Spartakus Technologies
[email protected]