16 | Plant & Works Engineering www.pwemag.co.uk Annual Buyers’ Guide 2026 Maintenance Matters Focus on: Plant & Asset Management confidence to prioritise. When engineers trust the information, they can make better decisions with less effort. Climbing towards the management peak The top of the pyramid represents the point where strategy, maintenance and management meet. Here, structured asset data enables more advanced approaches such as condition-based monitoring, predictive analytics and targeted renewal planning. These techniques are not new, but they only succeed if the underlying data is accurate. Before you can apply sensors, algorithms or modelling tools, you need to know what the asset is, how it behaves and where it sits in the broader system. Otherwise, teams waste time investigating false alarms, adjusting thresholds or chasing data quality issues. At the management peak, structured data allows organisations to: Identify assets approaching end-of-life and compare replacement against continued maintenance Recognise repeat failure patterns that point towards design or environmental problems Build business cases for capital investment using real operational evidence Understand where sensor deployment is worthwhile and where it is unnecessary Shift from fixed schedules to intelligent intervals that reflect actual usage and condition None of these activities require complex AI platforms or wholesale digital transformation. They simply need clean, consistent data and a methodical approach to interpreting it. For example, if a critical pump shows a predictable degradation curve, and you have the data to confirm its age, failure history and downtime impact, you can judge whether a sensor will deliver value or whether a planned replacement is more economical. If a low criticality asset has no meaningful consequence when it fails, you may consciously let it run to failure as part of a business-focused maintenance strategy. Structured data gives you the confidence to apply these decisions consistently rather than relying on individual judgement or incomplete information. Grounding digitalisation in real engineering There is a temptation to think of maintenance digitalisation as a technological exercise. In reality, it is closer to an engineering one. Structured asset data helps teams return to fundamentals: understand the asset, measure its condition, observe its behaviour, and plan accordingly. For organisations moving away from spreadsheets and paper-based systems, the journey does not need to be dramatic. It starts with building an accurate asset register. It grows through verifying condition and criticality. It matures when teams use that data to shape strategy and maintenance plans. The utilities project demonstrates that real benefits follow quickly once the dataset reaches a consistent standard. Major engineering improvements happen when teams can see clearly, not when they collect endless volumes of data they cannot use. A future built on clarity rather than volume As manufacturing becomes more automated and more interconnected, the value of structured asset data will only rise. It supports better decision making at every level, from capital planning to daily operations. It reduces waste. It strengthens resilience. It frees engineers to spend time where their judgement matters most. The pyramid model reminds us that asset management does not begin with advanced analytics. It begins with the basics of knowing what you have, understanding what matters, and acting on evidence rather than habit. Structured data is the quiet catalyst behind this shift. For many organisations, it is the most achievable and most productive step they can take towards a smarter, more reliable maintenance strategy. For further information please visit: https://ocs.com/uk/
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