A machine data collection system compares a plurality of measured values to one another and determines the measured value indicating a worst-case condition. The machine data collection system then reports the worst-case measured value across the control network. In some embodiments, the measured values are normalized based on each individual measurement's typical range, or a user-defined operating range, thereby producing a plurality of normalized values each corresponding to one of the plurality of measured values. The data collection system compares the plurality of normalized values to a nominal value and determines the normalized value indicating the worst-case condition. The system reports the measured value corresponding to the worst-case normalized value. In some embodiments, the data collection system also reports the worst-case normalized value across the control network.