01
Use portable measurement for planned routes
Portable systems suit accessible, lower-criticality assets where condition develops slowly enough for periodic measurement.
- Routine collection routes
- Commissioning and troubleshooting
- Acceptance testing
- After-maintenance verification
02
Use online monitoring for continuous risk
Online systems suit critical, inaccessible or rapidly changing equipment where an event must be captured automatically.
- Continuous or scheduled acquisition
- Automatic alarm and event capture
- Historical trend
- Remote or control-room visibility
03
Compare the evidence, not only the cost
A periodic overall value can miss transient behaviour. Online systems add installation and infrastructure but preserve condition changes between route visits.
- Fault-development speed
- Machine criticality
- Access and safety
- Required diagnostic record
04
Combine both approaches where practical
Many plants use online monitoring for critical machines and portable route measurement for the remaining asset population.
- Criticality-based asset strategy
- Shared nomenclature and limits
- Common reporting workflow
- Escalation from route to diagnostic test