Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1206285
www . machinerylubrication.com | January - February 2020 | 29 For a thorough evaluation, consider how lubrication is handled throughout the lubricant's life cycle. is would include lubricant selection, storage, handling, contamination control, lubricant analysis and disposal. ese six elements, which are part of the assessment in Noria's Lubri- cation Program Development process, are outlined below: Lubricant Selection What are the guidelines for the lubricants being selected? Who makes the final call on these decisions? Are they trained in lubricant selection best practices? Along with cost, are the operational, environmental and equipment factors considered in this decision? Are plant-wide optimizations, such as lubricant consolidation, taken into account? Lubricant Storage What are the guidelines for lubri- cant storage practices? Do you have a designated lube room to help ensure lubricant quality is maintained? Who is responsible for these practices? Are they trained in lubricant storage best practices? A proper lubrication room is not sustainable by itself. ere must be policies and accountability for the practices in these storage areas. A good lube room is not cheap. e return on investment will be based primarily on the care given to the lubricated equip- ment over time. Lubricant Handling What are the guidelines for trans- porting lubricants to machines? Since these activities often are handled by a variety of personnel, training should be a basic requirement with routine refresher courses on the best practices. e machinery's sustainable reliability will be contingent on the quality of the lubricant. Machine failure is expedited when the wrong or degraded lubricant is applied, if a combination of two types of oils or greases is used, or even if lubricant is not added due to a lack of awareness. Inspections or other condi- tion monitoring methods will be critical in this process. Contamination Control W hat a re t he sta nda rds for controlling contaminant ingression and removing contamination from the oil in your equipment? Not all machines require the same practices and config- urations, which will depend on factors such as criticality, contaminant likeli- hood, component sensitivity and cost. Who is responsible for these decisions and are they properly trained? Lubricant Analysis Are you taking oil samples and sending them out for analysis? Who is collecting these samples? Who is reviewing the results? Are they trained in the correct methods for sampling and interpreting data? Many oil analysis programs are ineffective because of the misunderstanding for what it takes to gather representative information about your oil and machinery. At the very least, you should know how to perform oil analysis at no cost with detailed inspections directly at the machine. Lubricant Disposal and the Environment Do you have regulations outlining how to dispose of lubricants? What are the risks associated with lubricant spills and leaks in your environmental surroundings? Are there precautions to mitigate these risks? Who is respon- sible for these activities and have they received proper training? Once you know your starting point, you can gauge how far you want to go and how long it might take. Obsta- cles will be encountered every step of the way. ese may be major, minor, expected or unexpected. Working with people and resetting their daily patterns aren't easy. Overcoming this sense of complacency will help you gain the momentum to keep the program sustainable over the long haul. Critical needs with production will always pop up, but even unexpected shutdowns can be an opportunity to achieve lubrication excellence by completing a short list of ML MEASURABLE CAUSE MEASURABLE EFFECT Time on machines with functioning desiccant/ particle breathers installed Time on machines within the targets for solid contaminants and dryness Time on machines with functioning desiccant/ particle breathers installed Time required to filter the oil to within the ISO contamination code targets Percentage of filters changed before exceeding the differential pressure limits Time required to filter the oil to within the ISO contamination code targets Time on machines with functioning desiccant/ particle breathers Percentage of oil analysis reports with critical contami- nation alarms work items while the equipment is down. Knowing these methods and being ready is all part of the journey to lubri- cation sustainability. Set Your Destination Where do you want to go? Unlike the starting point, your destination may be more of a moving target. It is best to have an idea of your lubrication program goals and begin moving in that direction. To support sustainability of these goals, be sure they are attainable and measurable. Attainable requires having a plan to achieve your goals with the necessary tools, training and time. Measurable means each goal is quantifiable, both in the actions performed and the benefits received. Without both parts of these key metrics, the connection between what created the benefit and which effects resulted from the cause is often misunderstood. is might be the most important prerequisite for lubrication sustainability. Leading Indicators Leading indicators help anticipate the onset of poten- tial failure modes and alert you when action should be taken to prevent damage. Most of these indicators seem rather mundane, and few work like an alarm. ey are comparable to a low fuel light, indicating a failure mode may soon occur if the condition is not rectified. Above are examples of contamination control leading indicators when correlating both the measurable cause and effect. Lagging Indicators Lagging indicators monitor events that are the result of a wear mode already in progress. rough early detection, these indicators can help prevent catastrophic failures, even though the failure mode has already begun. ey can be Examples of contamination control leading indicators when correlating both the measurable cause and effect