Record location, geometry, and progression
The first step is to describe where wear appears, its geometry, and how it progresses. Repeatable photographs, position references, dates, and comparable measurements help distinguish a pattern from an isolated impression.
- Component, position, and orientation
- Date, service hours, or campaign
Relate the pattern to operation, charge, and ore
Compare the pattern with changes in charge, feed, ore, operating events, and adjacent-component condition. Timing can help prioritize hypotheses, but technical validation is still required.
Preserve measurements, images, and context
A useful record preserves the original measurement, method, unit, responsible person, and capture context. Cropping the image or separating a value from its date can remove information needed for comparison.
Define hypotheses for engineering validation
Write hypotheses as testable questions and link each one to evidence that could confirm or reject it. Do not attribute the pattern to material, design, or operating practice before that review.