TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system for periodic maintenance or inspection of plants or machinery.

The present invention also relates to a method for periodic maintenance or inspection of plants that uses the above mentioned system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

As is known, the maintenance or inspection of plants or machinery has always played a key role within any company, particularly in the industrial sector.

Typically, normal maintenance or inspection operations, concerning the correct functioning of the plant(s) and of any machinery included in it, are carried out by inspectors or maintenance technicians who perform periodic surveys to check plant and machinery health or operation condition.

Periodic maintenance or inspection is particularly important for all mission critical or safety critical activities, where the monitoring and maintenance or inspection of plants or machinery plays a central role in ensuring the safety of the environment and/or human resources operating on the plant or machinery site.

Currently, for all those mission critical or safety critical activities, the state of the art suggests the installation of sensors and electronic devices for continuous monitoring associated with the plant or machinery, in order to detect the onset of any failures or breakages.

In general, such sensors are quite numerous and therefore, globally, the electronic monitoring devices applied to plants or machinery are expensive.

Moreover, the control of continuous monitoring through these sensors and devices is not always straightforward, as it often lacks centralized and coordinated management of all maintenance steps.

Furthermore, the data relating to the health condition of the plant or machinery detected by the sensors associated to it must be adequately integrated, processed and interpreted in order to obtain a reliable condition report so that the maintenance technician can promptly intervene in the event of failures or malfunctions. This is not always possible due to the difficult integration and compatibility of the different sensors associated with a specific plant or machine.

Furthermore, it should be considered that periodic maintenance or inspection activities often require the maintenance technician or inspector to rely on rather expensive and complex equipment in order to verify and check that all the operating parameters of the plant or machinery are up to standard.

Consider, for example, the case of a maintenance technician or inspector who must check a plurality of operating parameters for a specific machine, for example temperature, vibration, consumption, noise, light emissions, magnetic field deviation, noise analysis, etc. In this case, the maintenance technician or inspector should be provided with a special measuring instrument for each operating parameter to be checked. This results in very expensive equipment and rather slow and work-intensive procedures.

Moreover, the ordinary maintenance procedure generally leads to machine downtime which forces the company to suspend production or in any case, any plant or machinery activity, in order to facilitate the activity of the inspectors or maintenance technicians.

As can be understood, this results in decreased work/activity capacity of the plants or machinery.

Furthermore, typical maintenance processes according to the prior art do not allow for a comparison of information obtained on site on the operating or health condition of the plant or machinery with the operating history of the same plant or machinery, preventing in this way a genuine certification of the functionality of the plant or machinery at a given time and location.

It is therefore necessary to design and implement a system for periodic maintenance or inspection of plants or machinery which helps to overcome the prior art issues listed above.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The technical task of the present invention is to improve the state of the art in the field of systems for periodic maintenance or inspection of plants or machinery.

Within this task, it is an object of the present invention to provide a system for periodic maintenance or inspection of plants or machinery which is inexpensive and easy to use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a system for periodic maintenance or inspection of plants or machinery capable of reducing downtime and possible failures of the plant or machinery.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a system for periodic maintenance or inspection of plants or machinery capable of enhancing the skills of the maintenance technician or inspector in carrying out instrumental tests useful for defining the trouble-free operating condition of a plant or machinery.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a system for the periodic maintenance or inspection of plants or machinery capable of adequately capturing, recording, integrating, processing and interpreting the data necessary to obtain a reliable and timely report on the operating or health condition of the plant or machinery to be maintained or inspected.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a system for periodic maintenance or inspection of plants or machinery capable of registration of a digital signature that indicates the health or operating condition of a plant or machinery in order to certify its functionality at a given location and at a given time.

Finally, another object of the present invention is to provide a system for periodic maintenance or inspection of plants or machinery allowing for predictive maintenance of the operating condition of a plant or machinery.

This task and these objects are achieved by a system for periodic maintenance or inspection of plants or machinery according to claim 1.

Furthermore, this task and these objects are also achieved by a method for periodic maintenance or inspection of plants or machinery according to claim 11.

Dependent claims refer to preferred and advantageous example embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other features and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the description of an example embodiment of a system for periodic maintenance or inspection of plants or machinery, illustrated for guidance only in the accompanying drawings in which: figure l is a block diagram of a system for periodic maintenance or inspection of plants or machinery according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

In the accompanying drawings the same parts or components are indicated by the same reference numerals.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

With reference to figure 1, the number 1 globally indicates a system for periodic maintenance of at least one plant or machine M according to a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

The system 1 for periodic maintenance or inspection of at least one plant or machine M by a user U according to the present invention comprises at least one plant or machine M, positioned within an operating area.

In particular, the at least one plant or machine M is, according to the non-limiting example of embodiment of the present invention shown in the figures, a plant or machine M usable in mission critical application areas, i.e. in application areas in which this at least one plant or machine M is essential for the survival of the company, or safety critical, i.e. in application areas wherein the incorrect operation of the at least one plant or machine M can cause serious environmental damage, injury or loss of life. These areas can be, for example, medical, avionics, advanced manufacturing, amusement parks, etc.

The user U can be a maintenance technician or inspector appointed to carry out maintenance or inspection operations on the at least one plant or machine M.

The at least one plant or machine M is, in use, associated with a given operating or health condition defined as a function of one or more operating parameters OP1, OP2, ..., OPN belonging to one or more respective ranges of values RV1, RV2, ..., RVN, e.g. defined by practical and/or theoretical considerations or by statistical analyses,

The operating parameters OP1, OP2, ..., OPN are selected based on the type of application of the plant or machinery M being considered and can be, for example, temperature, vibration, pressure, orientation, movement or even the noise of a particular component of the plant or machinery M.

It should be noted that the list of possible operating parameters OP1, OP2, ..., OPN set out above is not exhaustive, as further operating parameters can also be provided based on the specific type of the at least one plant or machine M considered.

"Operating or health condition" refers to a condition or set of conditions that identifies or identify the correct or incorrect operativity of the at least one plant or machine M.

This condition or conditions concerns or concern the belonging of one or more operating parameters OP1, OP2, ..., OPN to one or more respective ranges of values RV1, RV2, ..., RVN.

In particular, the belonging of one or more operating parameters OP1, OP2, ..., OPN to one or more respective ranges of values RV1, RV2, . . ., RVN can, for example, be implemented through a threshold control.

The ranges of values RV 1 , RV2, ... , RVN for the one or more operating parameters OP1, OP2, ..., OPN can be chosen empirically on the basis of the structural and/or implementation and/or construction technical specifications of the at least one plant or machine M.

The system according to the present invention then comprises first detection means 2 operatively associable, in use, with the at least one plant or machinery M, configured to detect one or more verification values VV1, VV2, ..., VVN for the one or more respective operating parameters OP1, OP2, ..., OPN and processing means 3 responsible for processing the one or more verification values VV1, VV2, ..., VVN of the one or more respective operating parameters OP1, OP2, ..., OPN and for processing the operating or health condition of the at least one plant or machine M according to the one or more verification values VV1, VV2, ..., VVN of the one or more respective operating parameters OP1, OP2,..., OPN, previously processed, belonging to one or more respective ranges of values RV1, RV2,. . ., RVN.

In particular, the first detection means 2 are or comprise at least one mobile computerized device 4 including a plurality of sensors SI, S2, SN intended, in use, to detect one or more verification values VV1, VV2, .. ., VVN of the one or more respective operating parameters OP1, OP2, ..., OPN and transmission means 5, in electrical and/or electronic communication with the plurality of sensors SI, S2, ..., SN, configured, in use, to transmit the one or more verification values VV1, VV2, ..., VVN to the processing means 3.

Basically, the system 1 according to the present invention provides that the user U carries out the periodic maintenance or inspection operations of the at least one plant or machinery M through the use of the at least one mobile computerized device 4 as an instrument for detecting one or more verification values VV1, VV2, ..., VVN of the one or more operating parameters OP1, OP2, ..., OPN, which will then be transmitted to the processing means 3 for processing the operating or health condition of the at least one plant or machine M depending on whether one or more verification values VV1, VV2, ..., VVN belong to one or more respective ranges of values RV1, RV2,. . RVN.

As can be understood, this ensures huge savings in terms of the measurement instruments necessary to carry out periodic maintenance or inspection operations, as it is no longer necessary for the user U to have a detecting instrument for each operating parameter OP1, OP2, ... , OPN, replaced by the plurality of sensors SI, S2, ..., SN present inside the mobile computerized device 4, which allows for integration, in a single device, of all the detecting instruments necessary for the verification of one or more operating parameters OP1, OP2,. . ., OPN.

In this regard, the plurality of sensors SI, S2, ..., SN includes at least two of the following: a camera, a video camera, a temperature sensor, one or more inertial measurement sensors, a light sensor, a noise sensor, a pressure sensor, a motion sensor and a proximity sensor.

In particular, the one or more inertial measurement sensors can comprise, for example, at least one acceleration sensor and/or at least one magnetism sensor and/or at least one orientation sensor.

It should be noted that the list shown above of possible sensors SI, S2, ..., SN is a list of sensors which are typically already integrated in the mobile computerized device 4 and, therefore, no integration or addition procedures are necessary.

For the user U or, more particularly, for the maintenance technician or inspector, this allows for considerable savings of both time and costs.

As regards the transmission means 5 of the mobile computerized device 4, they can comprise at least one module for data communication, e.g. at least one module for wireless connection on a local network or WLAN, using, if so desired, the known WiFi communication protocol, and/or at least one module for wireless connection on a personal network or WP AN, using, if so desired, the known Bluetooth® communication protocol.

The processing means 3 comprise at least one central processing unit 3a comprising at least one memory including at least one computer program (or information technology program) or software designed for the processing of the one or more verification values VV1, VV2, ..., VVN of the one or more respective operating parameters OP1, OP2, ..., OPN and for processing the operating or health condition of said at least one plant or machine M according to the one or more verification values VV1, VV2, ..., VVN of the one or more respective operating parameters OP1, OP2,. . ., OPN, previously processed, belonging to one or more respective ranges of values RV1, RV2,..., RVN.

More in detail, the processing means 3 or, more particularly, the central processing unit 3a, can comprise a server or main node which provides clients or secondary nodes of the system 1, such as the at least one computerized mobile device 4, with one or more types of services, for example information relating to the operating or health condition of the at least one plant or machine M processed on the basis of one or more verification values VV1, VV2, ..., VVN of the one or more respective operating parameters OP1, OP2, . . . , OPN transmitted by the transmission means 5.

The at least one mobile computerized device 4 comprises at least one software application 4a which includes at least one graphic interface or GUI 4b configured, in use, to digitally display at least the operating or health condition associated with the at least one plant or machine M and the one or more operating parameters OP1, OP2,. . ., OPN to be maintained or inspected by user U. The at least one mobile computerized device 4 can be, for example, a smartphone, a tablet or even a portable computer.

Within the operating area of the at least one plant or machine M there may also be at least one fixed computerized device (not shown in the figures), for example a desktop computer, configured for the management and/or control of periodic maintenance or inspection operations.

This fixed computerized device, if present, is equipped with a specific web software application, similar to the software application 4a of the at least one mobile computerized device 4, which comprises a respective graphical interface or GUI for the management and/or control of periodic maintenance or inspection operations.

According to the non-limiting embodiment of the present invention shown in the figures, the system 1 comprises at least one database 7 which includes a history register HR of the trend over time of the one or more operating parameters OP1, OP2, . . . , OPN.

In this regard, the at least one computer program or software can comprise means for analysing the trend over time of the one or more operating parameters OP1, OP2, . . . , OPN included in the history register HR.

The analysis means can comprise at least one estimation algorithm, for example the Kalman filter algorithm, or a suitable automatic learning algorithm.

In general, the at least one estimation algorithm receives as input the trend over time of one or more operating parameters OP1, OP2, ..., OPN included in the history register HR and outputs at least one forecast of the trend of one or more operating parameters OP1, OP2, . . ., OPN.

As can be understood, this allows any irregularities present in the trend of one or more operating parameters OP1, OP2, ..., OPN of the at least one plant or machine M to be analysed in advance.

Furthermore, it should be considered that the one or more verification values VV 1 , VV2, ..., VVN are preferably associated with a given position in space and a given moment in time, so that they can be stored in the history register HR of database 7 and, if desired, used for certification purposes of the health or operation condition of the plant or machinery M. The association of one or more verification values VV1, VV2, VVN with a given position in space and a given moment in time is able to essentially determine a digital signature for the at least one plant or machine M.

In this regard, through this procedure it is possible to certify that the at least one plant or machine M, in a given place and at a given time, had given operating values for one or more of its operating parameters OP1, OP2, ..., OPN.

Moreover, through these methods the system 1 also allows the so-called condition monitoring to be carried out, i.e. the periodic maintenance or inspection of the at least one plant or machinery M on the basis of the at least one forecast of the trend of the one or more parameters OP1, OP2, ..., OPN, so that the user U or, more specifically, the maintenance technician or inspector can promptly take action to maintain or inspect the operating parameter or the operating parameters OP1, OP2, ..., OPN showing irregular behaviours.

In this regard, the mobile computerized device 4 can also digitally display the information relating to the trend over time of the one or more operating parameters OP1, OP2, ..., OPN, as well as any irregular behaviours detected following the analysis of this trend over time.

In order to provide measurement values MV1, MV2, ..., MVN that can constitute the trend over time of the one or more operating parameters OP1, OP2, ..., OPN and subsequently be stored in the history register HR included in the database 7 the system 1 can comprise second detection means 8, for example one or more wireless sensors, operatively associated with the at least one plant or machinery M, intended, first of all, to detect one or more measurement values MV1 , MV2, ..., MV for the one or more operating parameters OP1, OP2, ..., OPN, and, secondly, to transmit to the processing means 3 the one or more measurement values MV1, MV2, ..., MVN.

In this regard, if the system 1 comprises second detection means 8, it will comprise storage means, included or integrated, if so desired, in the processing means 3, designed to store the one or more measurement values MV1, MV2, ... , MVN of the one or more operating parameters OP1, OP2, ..., OPN, detected by the second detection means 8, in the history register HR so as to compose, in combination with the one or more verification values VV 1 , VV2, .. VVN, the trend over time of the one or more operating parameters OP1, OP2,..., OPN.

It should be noted that the trend over time of the one or more operating parameters OP1, OP2, OPN is preferably integrated and/or combined with also the one or more verification values VV1, VV2, VVN detected by the user U through the plurality of sensors SI, S2, SN of the mobile computerized device 4 and/or vice versa, i.e. the one or more verification values VV1, VV2, ..., VVN detected by the user U through the plurality of sensors SI , S2,..., SN of the mobile computerized device 4 are integrated and/or combined with the one or more measurement values MV1, MV2,. . MVN.

It should be noted that the trend over time of the one or more operating parameters OP1, OP2, ..., OPN could only consist of the one or more verification values VV1, VV2, . . . VVN periodically detected by the user U.

In this regard, considering, by way of non-limiting example, the case in which, to build the trend over time of one or more operating parameters OP1, OP2, ..., OPN, only the verification values VV1, VV2, ..., VVN are used, detected by the user U through the plurality of sensors SI, S2, ..., SN of the mobile computerized device 4 through discrete detection, it is possible to perform a historical comparison with the one or more verification values VV1, VV2, ..., VVN detected by the maintenance technician or inspector on site, thus making it possible to predict any failures or malfunctions inherent in the slow-varying or low drift speed operating parameters included in the one or more operating parameters OP1, OP2, ..., OPN.

Basically, for operating parameters that can change rapidly over time, it is preferable, in order to reconstruct their trend, to integrate and/or combine the one or more measurement values MV1, MV2, ..., MVN with the one or more verification values VV1, VV2, ..., VVN, while for slow-varying or low drift speed operating parameters, even only one or more verification values VV1, VV2, ..., VVN obtained by means of discrete detection by the maintenance technician or inspector can be sufficient.

In general, the user U can therefore carry out the related maintenance or inspection operations of the at least one plant or machine M when established periodically, for example, according to a respective work timeline or on condition, for example, after the detection of an anomaly by the processing means 3.

A non-limiting example of operation is described below according to the nonlimiting example of embodiment of the system 1 shown in the figures.

It could be assumed that the user U is a maintenance technician assigned to the maintenance activities of the at least one plant or machine M.

The maintenance technician can view the one or more operating parameters OP1, OP2, . . . , OPN to be maintained or inspected on the mobile computerized device 4 or, more specifically, on the graphical interface or GUI 4b.

It could be assumed, by way of example, that the operating parameters OP1, OP2, ..., OPN to be checked are the noise and vibrations of the machinery M.

The maintenance technician can then go to the machinery M and carry out the measurement of the one or more verification values VV1, VV2, ..., VVN for the one or more operating parameters OP1, OP2, ..., OPN, such as noise and vibrations, through the plurality of sensors SI, S2, ..., SN of the mobile computerized device 4 or, more particularly, through the microphone and the acceleration sensor thereof.

More specifically, the maintenance technician can position, for example, the mobile computerized device 4 on or near the machine M so that the microphone can detect one or more temperature verification values VV1, VV2, ..., VVN which will be then sent to the processing means 3 for their processing and the subsequent processing of the operation or health condition of the machinery M according to the one or more temperature verification values VV1, VV2, ..., VVN belonging to the respective frequency range RV 1.

The maintenance technician can also compare the one or more verification values VV1, VV2, ..., VVN with the records previously logged through maintenance or inspection actions in order to detect, by means of suitable estimation or automatic learning algorithms, any inherent anomalies in the one or more operating parameters OP1, OP2, . . ., OPN.

Assuming, by way of example, that the frequency range RV1, defined according to the operating specifications of the machinery M, is between 200 Hz and 400 Hz, and at least one verification value VV1 is detected or are detected above 400Hz, the processing means 3 will process an operation or health state that identifies a condition of incorrect operativity of the machinery M, which can be digitally displayed on the graphical interface or GUI 4b of the mobile computerized device 4 of the maintenance technician who can then further investigate the anomaly.

Similarly, the maintenance technician can position, for example, the mobile computerized device 4 on the machinery M so that the acceleration sensor, e.g. an accelerometer, can detect the one or more vibrations verification values VV1, VV2, ..., VVN which will then be sent to the processing means 3 for their processing and the subsequent processing of the operation or health condition of the machinery M according to whether the one or more vibrations values VV1, VV2, ..., VVN belong to the respective range of vibration RV2 or comparing it with the trend over time of the noise and vibration parameters, respectively, stored in the history register HR of the at least one database 7 in order to highlight any irregular behaviours.

It should be noted that, clearly, the acceleration sensor is able to directly measure the acceleration and then derive the respective mechanical vibration values from these measurements.

Assuming, by way of example, that the vibration range RV2, defined according to the operating specifications of the machinery M, is between 500 Hz and 1000 Hz, and at least one verification value VV1 is detected or are detected above 1000 Hz, the processing means 3 will process an operation or health state that identifies a condition of incorrect operativity of the machinery M, which can be digitally displayed on the graphical interface or GUI 4b of the mobile computerized device 4 of the maintenance technician who can then further investigate the anomaly.

Moreover, the second detection means 8 are able to continuously detect and transmit, in use, the one or more measurement values MV1, MV2, ..., MVN for the one or more operating parameters OP1, OP2, ..., OPN so as to constitute their trend over time. The measurement values MV1, MV2, ..., MVN constituting the trend over time of the one or more operating parameters OP1, OP2, ..., OPN, preferably combined with the one or more verification values VV1, VV2, ..., VVN, can be stored in the history register HR included in the database 7 so that the estimation algorithm, for example contained within the computer program or software in the memory of the central processing unit 3a, can analyse or predict any irregular behaviour.

The maintenance technician can then digitally display this information in real time on the graphical interface or GUI 4b of the mobile computerized device 4.

A non-limiting example of operation is described below according to the nonlimiting example of embodiment of the system 1 shown in the figures.

It is assumed that the user U is a maintenance technician assigned to the maintenance activities of the at least one plant or machine M, and that the maintenance service applies to the verification of the "digital signature" of a machine M, that is to say its own set of operating parameters.

It is also assumed that before the actual use of the machine M, one or more operating values have been measured of the one or more operating parameters OP1, OP2, ..., OPN to refer to for the subsequent measurements. These one or more operating values identify the ideal operating values that the one or more operating parameters OP1, OP2, ..., OPN of the plant or machinery M should assume, in use.

The maintenance technician can therefore measure one or more verification values VV1, VV2, ..., VVN for the at least one or more operating parameters OP1, OP2, ..., OPN and verify, e.g. by means of suitable estimation or automatic learning algorithms, how much and/or if such one or more verification values VV1, VV2, . . ., VVN deviate from the one or more operating values measured in ideal operating conditions. In this way, the maintenance technician can easily identify any operating faults in the machinery M and/or certify its operating or health condition.

An object of the present invention is also a method for periodic maintenance or inspection of a plant or machinery M.

Initially, the method according to the present invention provides for the step of supplying a system 1 according to the present invention or according to non-limiting embodiments of the present invention.

Subsequently, there is the step of operatively associating at least one mobile computerized device 4 with at least one plant or at least one machine M. This step can be carried out by a user U or, more in detail, by a maintenance technician or inspector appointed to carry out the maintenance or inspection of the at least one plant or machine M.

In particular, the associating step can consist, for example, in the approaching or putting into contact or in any case in any interaction of the mobile computerized device 4 with the at least one machine M.

The method according to the present invention then comprises the step of transmitting to the processing means 3, by means of the transmission means 5, the one or more verification values VV1, VV2, ..., VVN of the one or more respective operating parameters OP1, OP2, . . ., OPN.

Then there is the step of processing, by means of the processing means 3, the one or more verification values VV1, VV2, ..., VVN of the one or more respective operating parameters OP1, OP2, . . ., OPN.

Finally, the phase of processing, by means of the processing means 3, the operating or health condition of the at least one plant or machine M according to the one or more verification values VV1, VV2, ..., VVN of the one or more respective operating parameters OP1, OP2, ..., OPN, previously processed, belonging to one or more respective ranges of values RV1, RV2, . . ., RVN.

The method also includes the step of providing at least one database 7 which includes a history register HR of the trend of one or more operating parameters OP1, OP2, ..., OPN, the step of analysing the trend over time of the one or more operating parameters OP1, OP2,..., OPN included in the history register HR and the step of issuing at least one forecast of the trend of the one or more operating parameters OP1, OP2, . . ., OPN.

In this regard, the analysing step may include the step of providing at least one estimation algorithm, the step of receiving the trend over time of the one or more operating parameters OP1, OP2, ..., OP included in the history register HR and the step of processing, by means of said at least one estimation algorithm, at least one forecast of the trend of said one or more operating parameters OP1, OP2, ..., OPN.

More in detail, the step of providing at least one database 7 may comprise a step of detecting, for example by means of second detection means 8, one or more measurement values MV1, MV2, MV for the one or more operating parameters OP1, OP2, OPN, the step of transmitting, to the processing means 3, the one or more measurement values MV1, MV2, MVN and the step of storing, by means of storage means, the one or more measurement values MV1, MV2, ..., MVN of the one or more operating parameters OP1, OP2, ..., OPN, detected by the second detection means 8, in the history register HR so as to compose, in combination with the one or more verification values VV 1 , VV2, . . . , VVN, the trend over time of the one or more operating parameters OP1, OP2, . . ., OPN.

Moreover, the method can also comprise the step of providing the at least one mobile computerized device 4 comprising at least one software application 4a including at least one graphical interface or GUI 4b and the step of digitally displaying on the at least one graphical interface or GUI 4b at least the operating or health condition associated with the at least one plant or machine M and the one or more operating parameters OP1, OP2,. . OPN to be maintained or inspected by the user U.

According to a non-limiting example of the method according to the present invention, the step of providing at least one mobile computerized device 4 can also provide for the digital displaying of the trend of one or more parameters OP1, OP2, . . ., OPN.

Moreover, the method can also comprise, before the step of detecting, the step of obtaining one or more operating values of the at least one plant or machine M under ideal operating conditions. According to this non-limiting embodiment, the step of processing the operating or health condition of the at least one plant or machine M comprises the steps of comparing the one or more operating values with the one or more verification values VV1, VV2, ..., VVN and the step of evaluating and/or certifying the operation or health condition of the at least one plant or machine M according to the comparison made between one or more operating values with one or more verification values VV1, VV2 ,..., VVN.

The system 1 according to the present invention, as well as the method implementing this system, allow a notable reduction in machine downtime and possible failures of the plant or of the machinery. Furthermore, the present invention hugely reduces costs and considerably simplifies maintenance or inspection requirements by a user U or maintenance technician or inspector thanks to the use of a simple mobile computerized device 4 already integrated with various measuring instruments configured to capture data relating to one or more operating parameters OP1, OP2, OPN of the plant or machinery M.

It should also be considered that the present invention is capable of enhancing the analysis capabilities necessary to define the correct functioning state of a plant or machinery M, for example through the implementation of predictive maintenance.

Such implementation can be achieved by integrating the measurements recorded in the operating history of the plant or machinery M so as to compare them, by means of suitable estimation or automatic learning algorithms, with the operation or health condition of the plant or machinery M determined by the one or more verification values VV 1 , VV2, . . . , VVN at the time of implementing the verification measure itself.

Finally, it should be noted that, in general, the present invention allows to capture, integrate, process and adequately interpret the data necessary to obtain a reliable and timely report of the operating or health condition of the plant or machinery to be maintained or inspected.

It has thus been seen how the invention fully achieves the intended purposes.

Changes to and variants of the invention are possible within the scope of protection defined by the claims.