Reported by Ikuo Miyazaki, Komatsu Ltd.

Komatsu’s Vehicle Health Monitoring System (VHMS) has two functions for advanced diagnostics to lower machine operating cost. The first is health monitoring that maintains maximum operating conditions through preventive maintenance and repair to correct conditions before they cause extensive damage. It thus functions much like a “general practitioner.” The second function is machine operating management that functions like a “general hospital,” in which accumulated data on the machine and its systems is used to improve machine availability, productivity and machine component life. Komatsu’s VHMS data-supported technologies are available to offer optimum scheduling for inevitable component overhaul that will dramatically reduce repair costs, downtime and risk of catastrophic failure.

VHMS is designed to work on HD465-class dump trucks and above, D375-class bulldozers and above, WA600-class wheel loaders and above, as well as PC1250-class hydraulic excavators and above for high-utilization mining operations throughout the world.

“General Practitioner” VHMS Data Analysis by Distributors

VHMS stores information into six categories: Event History, Snap Shot Data Logger, Trends, Component Load Map, Operation Histogram and Payload Meter Data. By integrating numerous sensors on each machine, VHMS monitors the health statistics for around 30 items for trends and stores a total of 600 records of event histories. It can be accessed via personal computer or satellite communication, which aids service personnel in rapidly reviewing a history of past and potential problems to expedite the troubleshooting process and conduct repair scheduling.
 

“General Hospital” WebCARE Machine Management

Designed for comprehensive analysis of machine health conditions and utilization severity, WebCARE is a Website database that stores a wealth of VHMS and other monitored diagnostic data as well as Oil & Wear analysis results. Database access is available to Komatsu divisions working together to provide technical support to distributors, as well as to registered distributors for their own use. The most profitable way to use machines longer while saving operation cost is to encourage machine users to be more proactive before breakdowns become apparent.

WebCARE automatically and periodically creates useful reports and charts sent via e-mail to assist distributors. Moreover, supervisors and managers on job sites can more readily gauge machine utilization and performance to achieve the lowest machine operation cost per ton.

Source: http://www.komatsu.com/ce/support/v06114/index.html