Simmons Feed Ingredients (SFI) is a
family-owned and operated company
that produces high-quality animal
nutrition for pet food, aquaculture
and livestock. In the 67 years since the
construction of its first ingredient facility, SFI
has continued to acquire additional operations
and currently operates plants from Southwest
City, Missouri, to Quakertown, Pennsylvania.
Simmons implemented its first lubrication
program at its Southwest City plant in 2013.
e primary lube program consisted of one type
of gear oil, hydraulic oil and grease. After several
years, SFI switched to blender oil in hopes of
reducing cost as well as increasing efficiency.
e blender oil, however, resulted in gear and
bearing failures.
"We always had to call in extra help,"
recalled Tim Newman, the plant's maintenance
manager, who noted that it could take "over
three-quarters of the day just getting the plant
back up and running."
In response to the gear and bearing failures,
SFI's management hired an outside consultant
who determined the leading cause of failure
to be lax lubrication standards and a lack of
appropriate oils. As a company that prides itself
on its commitment to innovation, the team
effectuated change through the development
of a lubrication training plan. e Simmons
team attended the Reliable Plant Conference
& Exhibition to view the most efficient tools
and resources available in the market, returning
from the event with plans for immediate
improvements. Because of its dedication to
lubrication-enabled reliability, the Southwest
City plant is now the flagship of reliability and
success for Simmons Foods and an exemplar for
competing industry manufacturers.
6
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September - October 2018
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www
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machinerylubrication.com
