The table below illustrates the potential financial benefits associated with detecting machine failure conditions timeously (Jan 2010). Through early detection of failure conditions cost savings are made by eliminating a certain amount of unscheduled downtime due to break-downs, and by replacing costly unscheduled down-time with scheduled maintenance down-time work that is less costly.

Probability that a potential failure condition is detected - conservative	30%
Cost of unscheduled downtime due to failure (R/hour)	R 20,000
Cost of scheduled downtime (R/hour)	R 5,000
Current scheduled downtime (hours per year)	150
Current unscheduled downtime (hours per year)	60
Fraction of unscheduled downtime that could be eliminated by early detection of failure condition	30%
Cost saving due to elimination of unscheduled downtime	R 108,000
Fraction of unscheduled downtime that could be replaced by scheduled downtime due to early detection of failure condition	70%
Cost saving due to unscheduled downtime replaced by scheduled downtime	R 189,000
Total cost saving on consequential production losses per year	R 297,000