An intelligent maintenance system (IMS) is a system that utilizes the collected

data from the machinery in order to predict and prevent the potential failures in
them. The occurrence of failures in the machinery can be costly and even
catastrophic. In order to avoid them, there needs to be a system which analyzes the
behavior of the machine and provides alarms and instructions for preventive
maintenance. Analyzing the behavior of the machines has become possible by means of
advanced sensors, data collection systems, data storage/transfer capabilities and
data analytic tools developed for such purpose. More information on the related
data analytic tools can be found in prognostics. The aggregation of data
collection, storage, transformation, analysis and decision making for smart
maintenance is called an intelligent maintenance system (IMS).

An intelligent maintenance system is a system that utilizes the history data by

facilitating data analytics and decision support tools to predict and prevent the
potential failure of the machines. With the growing complexity of manufacturing
processes and machinery, the role of monitoring systems and intelligent maintenance
is becoming more crucial. The recent advancements in information technology,
computers and electronics have facilitated the design and implementation of such
systems.

Based on the industries growing demand in sustainability of the assets, different

maintenance practices have been designed and implemented. The maintenance practices
generally include condition-based maintenance (CBM), reliability-centered
maintenance (RCM), corrective maintenance, scheduled or planned maintenance and
predictive maintenance. An intelligent maintenance system enhances the performance
of predictive maintenance systems by utilizing the advancements in computer
science, electronics and information technology. The key research elements of
intelligent maintenance systems consist of:

"Transformation of data to information to knowledge and synchronization of the

decisions with remote systems;
Intelligent embedded prognostics algorithms for assessing the degradation and
predicting the performance in future;
Infotronics software and hardware platforms that make the products capable of
thinking, linking, reconfiguring and sustaining in a networked and tether-free
environment;
Embedded product services and life cycle information for closed-loop product
designs"[1]