The evolution from e(lectronic)Maintenance to i(ntelligent)Maintenance

iMaintenance stands for integrated, intelligent and immediate maintenance. It integrates various maintenance functions and connects these to all devices using advanced communication technologies. The main challenge is to integrate the disparate systems and capabilities developed under current eMaintenance models and to make them immediately accessible through intelligent computing technologies. iMaintenance systems are computer-based, able to evolve with the system that they monitor and control and they can be embedded in the system's components, providing the ability to integrate new functionality with no downtime. This article will show how iMaintenance systems can provide decision-making support, thereby going beyond merely connecting various maintenance systems.