An apparatus for monitoring the health of a compressor having at least one sensor operatively coupled to the compressor for monitoring at least one compressor parameter, a processor system embodying a stall precursor detection algorithm, the processor system operatively coupled to the at least one sensor, the processor system computing stall precursors. A comparator is provided to compare the stall precursors with predetermined baseline data, and a controller operatively coupled to the comparator initiates corrective actions to prevent a compressor surge and stall if the stall precursors deviate from the baseline data, the baseline data representing predetermined level of compressor operability.