FPA resource library
Predictive Maintenance Resources for Reliability Teams
These predictive maintenance resources help maintenance and reliability teams learn how condition monitoring works, compare diagnostic technologies and build better programs. Explore technical articles, videos, case studies, a reliability glossary and training guides from Failure Prevention Associates.
Explore by format
6 Ways to Learn With FPA Predictive Maintenance Resources
Choose the format that fits how your team learns best, from quick-read articles to hands-on certification training.
Technical Articles
Practical guidance on vibration analysis, thermography, ultrasound, motor testing and reliability programs.
Technical Videos
See condition monitoring technologies, techniques and field practices explained visually.
Case Studies
Real equipment problems and how diagnostics and corrective work resolved them.
Training & Courses
Vibration analysis, thermal imaging, ultrasound, alignment and balancing courses.
Tool & Technology Guides
Compare analyzers, motor testers, thermal cameras, ultrasound detectors and sensors.
FPA Newsletter
Receive new articles, training dates, product updates and reliability insights.
Latest from the blog
New Predictive Maintenance Articles and How-To Guides
Hands-on guidance from FPA specialists on vibration analysis, thermography, ultrasound, motor testing and reliability programs. This list updates automatically each time a new technical article is published.
Learn by technology
Predictive Maintenance Resources by Technology
Every condition monitoring technology finds different faults. Start with the one that matches your equipment, then go deeper with the related service, training and tools.
Build a learning plan
How to Use These Predictive Maintenance Resources in 4 Steps
Reading about condition monitoring is a good start. Turning it into a working program takes a simple plan your whole team can follow.
- Know your critical assets. List the machines whose failure would stop production or create a safety risk.
- Learn the core terms. Use the glossary so your team shares one vocabulary for faults, severity and actions.
- Pick a first technology. Start with the technique that covers your most common failures, usually vibration analysis.
- Train and certify. Move from articles and videos to hands-on courses and certification for the people collecting data.
Reliability glossary
Predictive Maintenance Glossary: 15 Key Terms
Plain-language definitions of the terms you will see most often in predictive maintenance resources, condition monitoring reports and training.
Predictive maintenance (PdM)
A maintenance strategy that uses equipment condition data to schedule repairs only when a developing fault is detected. Learn more.
Condition monitoring
Measuring parameters such as vibration, temperature, sound or oil condition to track machine health over time.
P-F interval
The time between the first detectable sign of a potential failure (P) and functional failure (F). Earlier detection gives more time to plan.
Vibration analysis
Measuring and interpreting machine vibration to identify faults such as imbalance, misalignment, looseness and bearing defects.
FFT spectrum
A Fast Fourier Transform view that breaks a vibration signal into its frequencies, so analysts can link peaks to specific fault types.
Infrared thermography
Using a thermal imaging camera to see surface temperature patterns that reveal electrical and mechanical problems.
Emissivity
How efficiently a surface emits infrared energy. Thermographers must account for it to measure temperature accurately.
Airborne ultrasound
High-frequency sound, above human hearing, used to find leaks, bearing friction and electrical discharge.
Motor circuit analysis (MCA)
De-energized electrical testing of a motor’s windings and insulation to find developing faults.
Laser shaft alignment
Using laser measurement to align coupled shafts precisely, reducing vibration and bearing and seal wear.
Field balancing
Correcting rotor imbalance in place, without removing the machine, using vibration measurements to place correction weights.
Reliability-centered maintenance (RCM)
A structured process for choosing the right maintenance task for each asset based on its function and failure modes.
Baseline measurement
A reference reading taken when a machine is new or known to be healthy, used to judge how much its condition has changed.
Route-based monitoring
Collecting condition data on a planned schedule and path through the plant, usually with portable analyzers.
ISO 18436
The international standard series for qualifying and certifying condition monitoring personnel, including vibration analysts and thermographers.
