Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1206285
in the reception area. ese will be crucial to mitigate shelf-life issues and unnecessary spare-part over- head. Storeroom usage should also be reviewed annually to determine if these values need to be adjusted. FIFO First-in/first-out (FIFO) prac- tices can help to reduce shelf-life concerns. You not only need to understand this philosophy of utilizing the oldest lubricant first but also implement a storage strategy to make it convenient. If individuals on the lubrication team must move and rearrange oil drums whenever a new drum is needed in order to get the oldest drum in stock, this practice likely will not last. Reception Dating Again, refer to the shelf life but note two specific dates: the batch date and the date the lubricant arrived onsite. is process can be as simple as highlighting the noted batch date and using a paint pen to write the arrival date on the side of the drum. is will help minimize additive depletion issues and allow the reception department to move closer to a just-in-time delivery system. If your facility is receiving drums that are several years older than the batch date, you may want to have a talk with your supplier. Quality Assurance/Control Qua lit y control is a nother essentia l element of inventor y management. For a world-class lubrication progra m, empha sis should be placed on verifying that the correct lubricant has been received. E stablishing testing, quarantine and ready-for-use areas will enable the site to ensure that it at least has the right lubricant and that the viscosity falls within the 10 percent range of the ISO code. Obtaining quality certificates from your lubricant suppliers can also provide assurance that your lubri- cants have been tested and approved. Filtration If your lubrication program is small, the lubricant reception area may be inside your lube room. If this is the case, you have a great opportunity to integrate filtration into your program's inventor y ma na gement. By m in i m i zing particle and moisture ingression, you will maximize asset life. Labeling and Tagging A lubricant identification system with a specific shape, color and naming nomenclature for each lubricant is imperative for a world- class program. is system not only should be utilized in the lube room but also for lubricant reception, satellite cabinets, lubricant handling, transfer and sampling equipment, assets, and components. Lubricant Reception Just as reception is the starting point in the lubricant-handling process, it should also be the first place to consider labeling. All lubri- cants should be labeled and tagged upon reception before they are staged or released for use. Lube Room and Satellite Cabinets As many lubrication champions have stated, the lube room is the heart of your program. As such, labeling and tagging will be para- mount in this area. All lubricants, bulk storage containers and transfer pumps should be properly identified to prevent cross-contamination. Lubricant Handling, Transfer and Sampling Equipment Lubricant handling, transfer and sampling equipment are often over- looked when it comes to labeling and tagging. While some facilities have upgraded to dedicated, seal- able and refillable containers with labels, it is still fairly common to see transfer pumps, filter carts and vacuum sampling pumps used for multiple lubricants. Assets and Components Assets on the plant floor should also be labeled with the correct lubrica nt identif ication. Since relubrication tasks are frequently delegated to operations, this is imperative to prevent confusion as to which lubricant goes where. e idea is to create a tagging system that is so clear that anyone can walk in and understand which lubricant should be used throughout the handling process. Documentation Documentation is another area where gaps are often identified in underdeveloped programs. Although there may be some resemblance of work instructions, it is rare to find programs that have comprehensive procedures for tasks and line-by- line steps that verify work is being performed the same way by different people. ese procedures for lubri- cation tasks should be carefully considered so as not to hinder work- flow in the field while also providing enough detail to standardize the work being completed. Procedures should be created for the majority, if not all, lubrication-related tasks, from reception to used oil sampling. Reception S t a n d a r d i z e d p r o c e d u r e s should be established for incoming lubricants, testing and handling. Incoming lubricants should have ML CURRENT STATE www . machinerylubrication.com | January - February 2020 | 35 36% of lubrication professionals say training is the most important factor for continuous improvement of a lubrication program, based on a recent survey at MachineryLubrication.com