Start new equipment right: the commissioning baseline

New equipment arrives, the installer gets it running, and everyone is relieved. The paperwork goes in a drawer and maintenance inherits a machine with no record of what "normal" looks like. Months later, when something seems off, there is nothing to compare against.

What a baseline is

A baseline is a set of readings taken when equipment is new and running correctly: motor current, vibration, temperatures, pressures, speeds. These become your reference. Any later reading can be compared to day one.

What to check at startup

Confirm the installation matches the drawings. Test guards, interlocks and emergency stops. Record baseline readings under normal load. Load the spare parts list and manuals into your maintenance system. Train operators and get sign-off from each responsible person.

Hand over properly

Commissioning should end with a clear handover to maintenance: the asset is in the system, its preventive plan is set, its critical spares are stocked, and the baseline is attached to the record. Only then is the project truly done.

Why it pays off

With a baseline, early warning signs are easy to spot because you know what changed. Warranty claims are stronger because you can show the machine was installed and started correctly. And new technicians have the information they need from the first day.