Maintenance personnel require information on the condition of equipment, while operations personnel want other information and purchasing or inventory control requires something different. Each group needs information tailored to specific requirements. For example, the enhancement most desired by maintenance supervisors is seamless access to maintenance-related data. Advanced software applications are performing that function now. Monitoring the intelligent devices installed in a plant and viewing their self-diagnostics probably are the most common functions of the instrumentation technician.
Most smart instruments provide extensive information about their own health.
Access to on-line device status provides a way to monitor and ensure proper device performance. The technician calls up the information device by device to see if any faults are flagged. Automatic alert monitoring also is available to automatically scan devices on a user-determined schedule. If device problems exist, the information is posted to an alert monitor list. If no specific problems are found but something is suspected, it may be possible, depending on the software package, to use on-demand diagnostics.