In a Root Cause Failure Analysis (RCFA), the goal is to determine the underlying cause of a failure, rather than just treating the symptoms. This is done by conducting a comprehensive examination of all the relevant factors, such as the failed bearing and its components, as well as the machine history and condition monitoring data. By doing so, we can build a complete picture of what led to the failure and prevent it from happening again in the future.

The process of investigating a failed bearing is similar to a Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) in that both require a systematic and thorough examination of all available evidence. By examining each element of the bearing, such as the grease, outer race, inner race, cage, and rolling elements, we can gain valuable insights into what went wrong. This combined with machine background information and condition monitoring data, allows us to pinpoint the root cause of the failure.

That’s why we encourage our customers to send us their failed bearings. By incorporating the failed bearing into our RCFA process, we can use our holistic approach to uncover the root cause and improve future uptime for their machinery.