Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation
Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/825468
erriam-Webster defines a contaminant as "something that makes a place or substance (such as water, air or food) no longer suit - able for use; something that contaminates a place or substance." Effective lubrication programs are centered on contamination control. However, one contaminant is often overlooked, and it has the potential to be the most destructive and costly of all contaminants, possibly costlier than all other contaminants combined. What is this critical contaminant? Believe it or not, it is your lubrication technicians and program managers. They are potentially your most expensive and damaging contaminant, and what can make them so destructive is a lack of training. Who, What, When, Where, Why and How In the development of a contamination control strategy for this unknown contami- nant, you must seek to answer who, what, when, where, why and how. "Where" is your plant, "when" is always, and "what" is the contaminant. "Who" is everyone involved in the lubrication program, such as techni- cians, managers, purchasing, shipping/ receiving, maintenance, operations/ production, etc. In the Navy, I learned that people don't do things for two basic reasons, which can be summed up as "can't" or "won't." The "won't" is usually easy to diagnose. It is a refusal to do what's asked and is quite simple to address. The "can't" is also easy to diagnose. The individual either doesn't have clear direction as to what the job is or doesn't have the proper tools or training. Often, this simply requires communication. Therefore, take the time to explain each task, outlining what the expectations are and what completion is. In this communication, you can identify what tools are needed and if you have the tools to complete the task. You must also determine if the person has the necessary skills and knowledge for the task. It's possible to provide the required knowledge so the individual is ready to perform the task in relatively short order, but the necessary skills can be a bit more problematic. A job/skills mismatch may exist, and the individual may never be able to complete the task satisfactorily. "Why" is a bit more complex, as is the "how." Numerous organizations invest in training for their team, sending personnel to public training courses, hosting private training events and undergoing certification testing afterward. While these methods are an excellent way to explain the "what" of lubrication, your program is destined to fail if all parties involved do not understand the M TRAINING Strategies to CONTAMINATION 48 | May - June 2017 | www.machinerylubrication.com Control C o n t a m i n a t i o n C o n t r o l PERSPECTIVE L oren Green | Nori a Corpor at ioN " " Even if you have invested large amounts of resources in your program, you may still need to invest in training for your team members in order for them to execute your procedures properly.