A system and method for analyzing equipment performance and optimizing operational costs are provided. Data from a sensor associated with a piece of equipment is analyzed and processed to identify characteristics associated with the performance and operational costs of the equipment. If the analysis indicates that abnormal conditions exist or that any user-defined alerts are warranted, a message is sent to an operator terminal. The system and method may continue to monitor the equipment and thus provide real-time data. The data may be stored in memory and collected over time. The data may be associated with a digital signature and used to create performance and/or financial reports for financial institutions, company quality control boards, regulatory control agencies, and the public. The system and method thus provide a cost effective and reliable analysis of equipment performance and operation costs.