Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/120548
quality/performance, lubrication effectiveness, fluid environment severity and effectiveness of early warning systems. This is exactly the purpose of the Optimum Reference State. Figure 5 shows how key ORS performance attributes influence the addressable reliability elements that in turn influence Overall Machine Criticality. Everything is connected. Additionally, failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) can be used to assign priority to ORS attribute improvements. For more information on FMEA as it applies to machinery lubrication, see http://www.machinerylubrication.com/Read/17/fmea-process. It makes sense that all reliability initiatives need to adjust (improve) the OMC. This typically involves a range of modifications to the ORS performance attributes as shown in Figure 5. These can include machinery modifications, lubricant selection changes, people skills improvements, procedure modifications and others. "Optimizing" the modification master plan through FMEA and criticality analysis achieves the lowest risk profile or OMC at the lowest possible cost. An example of this is seen in Figures 6 and 7. By making modifications to lubricant selection, lubrication methods, contamination control and oil analysis, the Failure Occurrence Factor improved from 8 to 1. For a machine that has a Machine Criticality Factor of 5, this brought the risk profile down from 40 (amber, high-risk zone) to 5 (blue, low-risk zone). What It All Means In the January-February 2013 issue of Machinery Lubrication, I wrote about the Technology Adoption Cycle and the impediments to adoption of the Optimum Reference State. People, especially managers, "go with what they know." If they don't understand risk and reward as it relates to machine reliability, they will shy away from acceptance and adoption. The state of lubrication continues "business as usual." This is a curse indeed, but one that can be remedied. Figure 5. This table shows how the ORS performance attributes directly influence the elements in the Reliability Elements Quotient (REQ). = Major Influence = Minor Influence = Moderate Influence ORS PERFORMANCE ATTRIBUTES Lubricant Attributes MACHINE DUTY* LUBRICANT QUALITY/ PERFORMANCE LUBRICATION EFFECTIVENESS FLUID ENVIRONMENT SEVERITY EFFECTIVENESS OF EARLY WARNING SYSTEMS Optimum lubricant products and supplier selection Lubrication Attributes ADDRESSABLE RELIABILITY ELEMENTS Optimum selection of oil change and regrease intervals Lubricant reception, labeling, packaging, storing and handling Optimum selection, documentation and use of lubrication and oil analysis PMs, tasks and procedures Machine Attributes Proper selection and location of filters Correct selection and location of oil level gauges and inspection sight glasses Correct selection and location of sampling valves Optimum selection of breathers and headspace management devices Correct machine relubrication and flushing hardware and tools Optimum selection and use of seals and leakage control devices Optimum selection and use of seals to control contaminant ingression Oil Analysis Attributes People and Program Management Attributes Oil analysis program design and execution Awareness training, skills training, competency testing Optimum use of lubrication program metrics and KPIs Optimum program management, data management, work management systems * Process design and control influence, not usually maintenance related www.machinerylubrication.com | March - April 2013 |7