Cumulative: Indicators that are cumulative store a value from a meter that increases over time. For example, the odometer on a car is a cumulative meter.
Numeric: Indicators that are numeric store a value from a meter that can go up and down over time. For example, temperature and pressure gauges are numeric meters.
Descriptive: A descriptive indicator stores a value from a list that describes the condition of the equipment. Descriptive indicators usually record the results of a visual inspection of a piece of equipment. You can define the list of possible values when you create the indicator. For example, an indicator to record the condition of tires on a car could have values such as Good, Slightly worn, and Threadbare. The employee who inspects the tires would choose one of these values.
Rule-based: An indicator where the current state of the asset is determined by a rule rather than by a direct reading. The rule is made up of clauses based on the current state of other indicators. The rule allows APM to warn you of the existence of a potential problem. When the conditions listed in the rule are true, APM triggers an alarm on the indicator.
