Industrial Applications of Model-Based Approaches to Fault Diagnosis

Abstract

SummaryThis paper describes the research undertaken to determine the impact that model-based approaches to fault diagnosis have made in the industrial environment. To verify the hypothesis that few if any model-based approaches were finding practical applications, an investigation was conducted. The results of the investigation indicated that whilst most systems had been applied to genuine, rather than hypothetical, devices only one system had been implemented in the workplace. Furthermore, this paper identifies some of the reasons for the lack of practical applications of the model-based approach. The reasons for the successful industrial implementation of one model-based diagnostic system (MIDAS) are presented. Finally, it is concluded that there is a genuine need to develop and evaluate model-based systems in an industrial context to determine whether their potential benefits can be realised in practice.