Was wondering if anyone has a list of selection criteria that could be used as a score card for review and purchase of new hardware and software for our corporate vibration program?
I will be bringing in vendors in the next few months for presentations and would like a checklist of items, so the team does not overlook any aspect for review.

Also, any helpful tips for evaluating vendor hardware and software would be helpful.

Thanks,

Chris

If you search this forum, you get the information requested. However, never seen an independent criteria list or review so far.

Gerold,

I would think that the list you seek should come from you. Most sites, no matter how large or small, have unique pieces of equipment or reliability concerns.

I would advise you make certain that whatever equipment you choose should be "test driven". Make certain that you are getting what you need, not what a salesperson tells you that you need, and that the equipment will actually perform the needed tasks. Don't take someone's word for it.

Beyond that just compare apples to apples and ask lots of questions.

Is this a new program or an old program hunting new and better tools to improve the old program or a plant changing over from outside contractors to an in house program?

Salemen can be pretty convincing on their equipment especially if it a "new" from the ground up program.

Ralph,

Currently we are operating with two equipment platforms (one at one plant and another at two other plants). I have been tasked with consolidating into one platform. I am fairly new to vibration and do not really possess enough knowledge to know if I am looking at all of the right angles for evaluating vendors. The plant technicians will be involved in the decision process, but most are fairly new as well.
I was looking to see if anyone already has some form of canned spreadsheet that would get me started in the process. Also, if others had been in the same situation and in hindsight wish they would have given more consideration to an aspect of hardware or software.

I do know that I will be looking for software that can be networked or web based. Also would like to bring in the on-line/realtime monitored equipment so the data is dumped directly into the software. For the hardware, I know we need more than the basic units. We want the capability to do phase, balancing and routes.

Thanks,
Chris

Chris,

We are useing SKF Machine suite on a Citrix server linking 5 facilities. There were some growing pains but now going on 2 years it is working well. As far as comparisons I have none.

Regards, Dave Dane

Are you comfortable with either of the platforms you currently have in service?

Is one more up to date than the other?

What are their current capabilities and does either match your perceived needs?

Chris,
I noticed you are from the La Crosse area, and was wondering if you knew of anyone that is looking for a vibration analyst job.

quote:

Originally posted by Don Jones:
Are you comfortable with either of the platforms you currently have in service?

Is one more up to date than the other?

What are their current capabilities and does either match your perceived needs?

Don, I am comfortable with either system we have, both are up to date and both serve our capabilities and needs. I want to consolidate everything into one platform for ease of training, equipment changability and service agreements. I will be looking at other vendors in the process to get some comparisons and a fresh look at what is out there.

Hi Chris,

I myself was in your place a few months ago. My department was shopping for new hardware on data collectors and I reviewed a lot of brochures, asked for some field demonstrations, the works. In the end, I came up with some sort of "selection matrix" rating the best equipment based on my needs, awarding points in thech. specs., safety issues (I work in and LPG processing plant), customer support (time response if the collector was damaged, for example), and last, but not least, price.

If you want I can share with you a spreadsheet that I made with all this, but I must warn you, it's in spanish.

Let me now what you say.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: mechanical pawn,

Gerold,
It is a good idea to take a look. You might find something better. One of the things I would want to know is which of the software packages you have now will transfer the database of the other and at what cost. Also, campare what the new packages offer in this area too.

When changing to a new package you might look at what and how much training will be needed to become proficient with that software.
Good Luck on this venture!

Pawn,

Unfortunately, I do not know Spanish. Is there anyone who would be able or willing to translate the document if you posted it? If nothing else, please post or email and I will try to work something out.
Thanks,
Chris

Chris,

I did my best to translate the spreadsheet for you trying to preserve its meaning in the evaluation criteria. For this particular case I examined three collectors. Let me explain a bit how it works:

The main sheet has the final evaluation in which the overall score is calculated based on four master criterions that I chose based on my needs. To these for criterions a weight factor was assigned based on the most important aspects of the evaluation according to my needs. For example, tech. specs. and safety and operation conditions are more critical to me than price. You could change those values at will but the score will change as your demands change.

There are four other sheets where each criteria is evaluated separatedly. Again there is a colum of 'max score' with caracteristics that the ideal equipment should have (again, based on what I need that this 'ideal equipment' should have). In these sheets also, you can change the 'MAX SCORE' value, but be cautios: the total 'MAX VALUE' should always sum 100!.

Again I offer this as a guideline, you may change it as much as you like, but the one thing to keep in mind is that you always must compare the equipment you are analyzing to that 'ideal equipment' you need.

Finally, you coud expand all the sheets to compare as much equipments as you want but you'll have to endure the annoying task of copying all the formulas in the cells. I'm open to any questions you might have.

Another thing, if you do change it and it works better, please do post it again, so we may all benefit from it.

I hope this can be of any help

This message has been edited. Last edited by: mechanical pawn,

Matrix_selection_criteria_-_Data_collectors.xls (33 Kb, 40 downloads) Equipment Selection Criteria

Hello,

We are using a SKF Micro log GX70 with a 1GB expansion card which gives us a great amount of route storage space. I did not notice this option in your spread sheet.

Regards, Dave Dane

Hi Dave,

I didn't put the expansion card because my local dealer dind't mention it when i frist asked for measuring gear. This could be a good chance to improve the file

Thanks for the tip, though

This message has been edited. Last edited by: mechanical pawn,