SKF Reliability Systems Forms @ptitude Technology Venture to Develop Industrial Decision Support Systems and Reliability Solutions


GOTEBORG, Sweden, May 22, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- @ptitude programs, resources, capabilities, and methodology will supply SKF customers with a powerful competitive advantage As part of its growth strategy, SKF Reliability Systems (a business unit of the SKF Service Division) has formed a new technology venture to develop industrial decision support systems. The venture supports the company's efforts to become the worldwide leader in technology-based solutions that increase efficiency and yield a strategic, competitive advantage for SKF customers.

Branded @ptitude(tm), the venture develops technologies and services that automate the decision support process, providing customers in manufacturing settings with advanced asset management capabilities. As such, it is a key component of Asset Efficiency Optimization(tm), a core SKF concept that enables a plant to produce more for less cost.

@ptitude solutions are a more effective alternative to the practice of manually accessing, analyzing, distributing, and storing information used to make maintenance and reliability decisions. As a structured, automated process, @ptitude solutions reduce variability and improve efficiency by integrating condition monitoring systems, automated machinery diagnostics, distributed control systems, computerized maintenance management systems, and internet/intranet websites with SKF competence and knowledge. In addition to offering technology-based solutions, the new business venture provides high-skill, high-impact services to install, commission, and support this technology.

"This initiative is a further development in SKF's drive to support industrial customers with knowledge-based services designed to reduce total operation costs, maximize maintenance efficiency and increase production by optimizing asset efficiency," said Phil Knights, President of SKF Service Division.

Key to the new venture are:

@ptitude decision support technology, which includes the knowledge-based @ptitudeAlert expert system and the @ptitudeView informationmanagement system.

An underlying methodology called Asset Knowledge Science, whichcaptures the intellectual capital associated with effective assetmanagement programs.

A web-based knowledge source, called @ptitudeXchange, whichprovides access to the global expertise of SKF, as well as its alliancepartners.

@ptitude technologies for automated, industrial decision support @ptitude decision support technologies include @ptitudeAlert and @ptitudeView.

@ptitudeAlert is a knowledge-based system that analyzes extensive data from condition-based maintenance systems. Using advanced diagnostic techniques, it extracts symptoms from measurements to indicate an asset's health. In operation, @ptitudeAlert sends the appropriate information about an asset and its symptoms to @ptitudeView for additional fault resolution with symptoms from other data sources. These additional sources may include operator inspections, process control systems and data historians, as well as detective technologies.

@ptitudeView is an advanced application that allows a user to easily manage information for Asset Efficiency Optimization. @ptitudeView documents, prioritizes and displays machine-reliability and maintenance results.

@ptitudeView automatically:


-- Documents and reports diagnosis results - detailing a problem
   machine's faults, including qualified severity, confidence and alert
   levels.

-- Reduces the amount of data an individual must collect and review to
   diagnose machinery health.

-- Records and reports inspection results that detail causes of asset
   faults and failures.

-- Prioritizes machine problems, highlighting critical issues needing
   immediate attention.

-- Stores and organizes documents, data, and asset histories.

-- Communicates results to a wide audience and alerts personnel to
   abnormal conditions.

-- Generates work requests within computerized maintenance management
   systems (CMMS).

Asset Knowledge Science

Asset Efficiency Optimization requires knowledge about how to diagnose industrial equipment problems. Asset Knowledge Science defines a methodology for capturing the intellectual capital associated with effective asset management programs. Embedded within SKF's new @ptitude technology, it facilitates automated, industrial decision support.

In order to supply machinery users with this knowledge, SKF Reliability Systems has developed a decision process and model for managing an asset. This model has been filled with practical knowledge acquired and archived by SKF since the company's inception in 1907. Now that it has been broken down into an Asset Knowledge Science, this knowledge can now be duplicated, explained and reliably implemented.

Using Asset Knowledge Science to define the diagnostic method for an asset, SKF has created a systematic process that reduces the variability often associated with manual efforts based upon individual experiences. Asset Knowledge Science fuses the concepts of Failure Mode and Effect Analysis (FMEA) and Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) with expert techniques for data mining of measurements that indicate the status of an asset's health.

@ptitudeXchange, the on-line source for Asset Management Knowledge

@ptitudeXchange is an online web-enabled source for asset management knowledge (http://www.aptitudexchange.com). The mission of @ptitudeXchange is to provide exceptional value to manufacturing professionals by becoming the premier knowledge source for asset maintenance and reliability-related issues.

This fee-based knowledge source provides access to the global expertise of SKF as well as its alliance partners. Users have immediate access to a knowledge bank of documents as well as web-based interactive decision support services. This reduces the time required to find information related to Asset Efficiency Optimization.

Knowledge on @ptitudeXchange consists of information to understand industrial processes and the recommended solutions for improving asset performance. @ptitudeXchange addresses these professionals' needs for knowledge by providing:

Up-to-date overview and detailed reports on:


 - Asset management, including maintenance strategies, work flow 
   processes, maintenance management systems, benchmarking and best 
   practices, and industry knowledge.

 - Reliability Engineering, including inspection techniques, specific 
   asset knowledge science, failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA), 
   root- cause failure analysis (RCFA) and bearing-failure analysis.

 - Mechanical Maintenance, including alignment, balancing, lubrication, 
   installation and technical overviews of equipment.

 - Supply chain, including e-commerce and spare-parts management.

Up-to-date electronic advisory systems, including but not limitedto lubrication advice, bearing-failure diagnosis, and bearinginstallation.

Access to a virtual support network for expert services.

Support available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, via Internetaccess.

Interaction with @ptitudeXchange is available via individual articles and e-services, horizontal application and vertical industry focuses, and job disciplines. Knowledge may be exchanged on a one-time basis or via subscriptions.

The mission of SKF Reliability Systems' @ptitude(tm) venture is to develop advanced technologies and services to automate the decision support process, providing customers in manufacturing settings with optimized asset efficiency and integrity.

Goteborg, May 22, 2002

Aktiebolaget SKF (publ.)


For further information, please contact: Lars G Malmer, SKF Group 
Communication, tel. +46 31 337 1541, e-mail: Lars.G.Malmer@skf.com
Colin Roberts, Group Technical Press, tel. +31 306 075 608,
e-mail: Colin.Roberts@skf.com

Aktiebolaget SKF, SE-415 50 Gteborg, Sweden, tel. +46 31 337 1000,
fax +46 31 337 2832, www.skf.com

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