Utilization of satellite monitorin g for determination of optimal maintenance interval

Properly performed preventive maintenance is one of the basic conditions for ensuring the operability of the mobile machines. Basically there are two types of preventive maintenance: scheduled maintenance with pre-determined intervals and maintenance according to the technical state. Common practice shows that maintenance intervals are often determined only by a qualified estimate of the machine manufacturer or maintenance manager, which results in costs increase. The authors proposed a new method of using the modern technology of Global Positioning System and General Packet Radio Services, in order to reduce costs of preventive maintenance. The mentioned technology allows the users to monitor a number of operational parameters of mobile machinery in real time. Collected data obtained from the operation can be used for decision-making of maintenance activities. For ensuring the availability of mobile machinery it is important to determine the optimal maintenance interval. In order to determine the optimal interval for performing preventive maintenance, the authors proposed a method of exploiting data from satellite monitoring using the criterial function. The proposed method is demonstrated on the example of accurate determination of preventive maintenance intervals for several mobile machines. Using data from satellite monitoring and subsequent data processing contribute to better maintenance planning and consequently to economical operation.