Validate
Confirm the condition-monitoring diagnosis, identify the probable failure mode and separate abnormal damage from normal end-of-life condition.
Bearing failure investigation and RCFA
Find out why it failed—and stop it happening again.
AMREA provides evidence-based bearing inspection, failure mechanism analysis, root cause failure analysis and defect elimination for critical rotating assets.
Bearing inspectionFailure mechanismsMachine RCFADefect elimination
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View the investigation model
Why investigate
A failed bearing is evidence—if it is captured before it is lost.
Bearing replacement should not have to be the end of the story. AMREA helps clients preserve the evidence, understand what happened and convert findings into practical reliability improvement.
Understand
Identify the physical mechanism, including contamination, lubrication, installation, alignment, loading or other contributing factors.
Eliminate
Establish root causes, implement practical change and verify that the defect does not return.
A proportionate approach
Four levels of investigation
AMREA escalates the scope only as far as the failure, risk and business impact require. A low-risk issue may be resolved at inspection; a recurring critical failure may warrant a full defect-elimination pathway.
Level 1
Bearing Failure Inspection
Validate the diagnosis and identify the most probable failure mode through evidence-based inspection.
Level 2
Failure Mechanism Analysis
Establish how physical damage developed using strip-down evidence and operating, maintenance and condition-monitoring data.
Level 3
Root Cause Failure Analysis
Facilitate stakeholder agreement on the most probable root causes and the practical solution.
Level 4
Defect Elimination
Implement the solution, monitor results and fine-tune the change until the defect is eliminated.
Level 1
Bearing failure inspection
A fast, evidence-based entry point for validating bearing condition and informing the next maintenance or reliability decision.
When to use it
- A condition-monitoring alarm requires validation
- A removed bearing and its evidence are available
- A defensible record of the defect is required
Our approach
- Visual examination and photography
- Identification of visible defect characteristics
- Comparison against accepted damage classifications
What you receive
- Most probable failure mode
- Commentary on defects relative to bearing age
- Evidence to inform maintenance and reliability actions
Level 2
Failure mechanism analysis
For repeat failures, unexpectedly short life, high-consequence events or disputed causes, AMREA determines how the physical damage developed before recommending the depth of further investigation.
We review maintenance, operating and installation records alongside condition-monitoring trends. Evidence may include bearing surfaces, lubricant condition, seals, surrounding machine condition, optical examination and, where warranted, specialist laboratory or metallurgical analysis.
- Strip-down evidence
- Bearing surfaces
- Lubricant condition
- Seals and contamination
- Installation and assembly records
- Operating history
- Condition-monitoring data
- Surrounding machine condition
Level 3
Machine RCFA investigation
AMREA brings together technical evidence and a structured stakeholder process to build shared understanding and agree a practical path forward.
Evidence base
Failure-mechanism assessment, design information, operating and maintenance history, assembly records and condition-monitoring data form the basis for defensible analysis.
Facilitated workshop
Independent, structured facilitation supports cause-and-effect analysis, challenges assumptions and helps stakeholders agree the most probable root causes.
Practical outcomes
Actions are matched to the failure mechanism, with defined owners, timing, change-control needs and a documented implementation plan.
Level 4
Defect elimination: the report is not the finish line
Defect elimination closes the reliability loop by turning investigation findings into sustained improvement.
Establish
Complete the investigation and agree the root causes using the available technical and operational evidence.
Implement
Convert actions into engineering, maintenance, procedural or operational changes with appropriate ownership and control.
Verify
Monitor performance, fine-tune the solution where required and confirm the defect has been eliminated.
Act early
Protect the evidence at strip-down
Once components are cleaned, altered or discarded, the evidence needed for defensible findings may be gone. Engage AMREA before or during strip-down for critical, repeat or disputed failures.
- Photograph and identify components before cleaning or disassembly.
- Capture fits, clearances, seals, lubrication, contamination and workmanship.
- Review operating and maintenance history while the event is current.
- Use the evidence to guide investigation scope and avoid unsupported conclusions.
AMREA reliability support
Scope the investigation to the depth the failure warrants.
Capture evidence early. Validate the failure mode. Understand the damage mechanism. Implement the right corrective actions. Verify that the defect is eliminated.
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