Mastering Machine Health and Failure Prediction - The 5 Humors & Failure Progression: Teaching Through the Senses
- Kerin Epperly, CLSSMBB

- Sep 23
- 1 min read
Over the past year, and especially in the last four months, I’ve gone deep into machine theory. What emerged is our new course: Mastering Machine Health and Failure
Prediction - The 5 Humors.
In my 30 years in manufacturing as a Continuous Improvement leader and LSS Master Black Belt, I’ve applied countless methodologies: Lean, TPM, RCM, SMED, RCA, BDA, and more. Each has its place, but none surpass the impact of truly understanding the equipment itself and the way failure progression unfolds.
If a company wants to make a true, immediate impact on profits, the key is simple:
Teach operators how to use their 5 senses for diagnostics.
Train them in failure progression.
Give them the framework of the 5 Humors of Machine Health.
When these three work together, no single methodology can match the results. The outcome isn’t just better maintenance, its predictable reliability, empowered operators, and stronger profits.





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