A method of predicting failure of an applicator of a hot melt liquid dispensing system , the applicator configured to dispense hot melt liquid and the hot melt liquid dispensing system further having a hot melt liquid heater , associated with the applicator , the method comprising: providing a plurality of applicator parameter values of a first operating parameter of the applicator , each applicator parameter value of the plurality of applicator parameter values being temporally associated with a time interval of a first block of time; characterized in that the method further comprises: determining a first subset of applicator parameter values of the plurality of applicator parameter values , each applicator parameter value of the first subset of applicator parameter values indicating no dispensing activity of the applicator for a temporally associated time interval of the first block of time; determining a second subset of applicator parameter values of the plurality of applicator parameter values , each applicator parameter value of the second subset of applicator parameter values indicating dispensing activity of the applicator for a temporally associated time interval of the first block of time; and based on the first subset of applicator parameter values and the second subset of applicator parameter values , determining a predicted time of failure of the applicator . providing a plurality of applicator parameter values of a first operating parameter of the applicator , each applicator parameter value of the plurality of applicator parameter values being temporally associated with a time interval of a first block of time; characterized in that the method further comprises: determining a first subset of applicator parameter values of the plurality of applicator parameter values , each applicator parameter value of the first subset of applicator parameter values indicating no dispensing activity of the applicator for a temporally associated time interval of the first block of time; determining a second subset of applicator parameter values of the plurality of applicator parameter values , each applicator parameter value of the second subset of applicator parameter values indicating dispensing activity of the applicator for a temporally associated time interval of the first block of time; and based on the first subset of applicator parameter values and the second subset of applicator parameter values , determining a predicted time of failure of the applicator . determining a first subset of applicator parameter values of the plurality of applicator parameter values , each applicator parameter value of the first subset of applicator parameter values indicating no dispensing activity of the applicator for a temporally associated time interval of the first block of time; determining a second subset of applicator parameter values of the plurality of applicator parameter values , each applicator parameter value of the second subset of applicator parameter values indicating dispensing activity of the applicator for a temporally associated time interval of the first block of time; and based on the first subset of applicator parameter values and the second subset of applicator parameter values , determining a predicted time of failure of the applicator . <EOS>