What is the primary function of overall alarms in reliability management?

The primary function of overall alarms in reliability management is to indicate approaching failures. Overall alarms serve as critical alerts that inform operators and maintenance teams when equipment is deviating from its normal operating conditions, signaling that a failure may be imminent. By providing this early warning, overall alarms enable proactive measures to be taken, such as scheduling maintenance or inspections, thereby minimizing downtime and preventing more significant issues from occurring. This focus on predicting and alerting about potential failures plays a crucial role in enhancing the reliability of systems and reducing risks associated with unexpected failures.