Issues such as oil carryover, air leaks, filter clogs, and inadequate lubrication are all warning signs of a gradually failing system. While all air compressor manufacturers recommend carrying out scheduled maintenance checks mandatorily, not recognizing the symptoms associated with certain issues can also lead to system failures.

So, does that mean that it is possible to identify the exact problem by simply observing the preliminary symptoms? In most cases, yes, it is.

For a customer, it is important that the functioning of a downstream equipment that relies on compressed air is not disturbed. Hence, efficient and smart troubleshooting is mandatory to save time and money. By closely observing the symptoms, we can anticipate the nature of the problem. Data must be collected, verified, and ascertained properly in order to arrive at a conclusion.

The most reported issues of an air compressor are:

1. Pressure not building up or not loading
2. High temperature and tripping
3. Not understanding alarming and warning signals in the controller
4. Tripping with high sump pressure
5. Oil leakages
6. Moisture condensation observed at utility point

Most of the problems can be identified through self-diagnosis of the following:

Oil levels and colour

ISO 9000’s definition of quality is the “degree to which a set of inherent characteristics fulfills requirement”.

So, we must consider the customer, the attributes of the product and the degree to which the product or service meets the needs of all stakeholders. Based on these characteristics we can define the quality of a product as “good”, “average”, “excellent”.

Adherence to a recognized quality standard is essential for dealing with certain customers or complying with legislation. If you sell products in regulated markets, such as health care, food or electrical goods, you must be able to comply with the health and safety compliance standards designed to protect consumer’s interests.

In today’s business environment, organizations face multiple challenges ranging from a global economic slowdown, challenging and agile competition, and technology that’s moving at lightening pace. And one of the ways in which an organization can build a strong, sustainable competitive advantage for itself, is via implementing Total quality management (TQM) practices.