The method includes receiving a real-time signal containing information pertaining to amplitude and frequency of vibrations of a machine component over a frequency spectrum including a first analysis bandwidth and a second analysis bandwidth, and using the real-time signal to determine values indicative of the severity of vibrations occurring at frequencies in the first analysis bandwidth in a first unit of one of displacement, velocity, and acceleration, and determine values indicative of the severity of vibrations occurring at frequencies in the second analysis bandwidth in a second unit of one of displacement, velocity and acceleration, the second unit being different from the first unit; and associating the determined values in a common unit representing comparable severity of vibrations in the first analysis bandwidth and the second analysis bandwidth.