Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1206285
38 | January - February 2020 | www . machinerylubrication.com the asset's criticality, cost of replace- ment, related downtime costs and replacement-part lead time. The higher the asset ranks on the criticality list, the more time, money and effort should be spent on it. In regard to oil reservoirs, the key locations where you should consider adding hardware will be the headspace, oil level and bottom drain. Using the appropriate hardware in these locations will help keep the reservoir dry, decrease foam and enable you to visually inspect the bottom for contaminants that have settled out. Filtration Even if efforts have been made to prevent contaminant ingression, filtration is still needed for those contaminants that make it through or are already in the system. For larger, more critica l equipment, online and offline kidney-loop filtra- tion should be considered. Smaller, less critical reservoirs often can be drained and flushed based on oil analysis results. Portable filter carts, which can be moved from asset to asset, are another option. Lubricant Handling A lthough some organizations have made advances in lubricant handling, many lubrication programs are still lacking in this area. Common gaps include improper use of transfer containers, sharing resources among lubricant types and failing to deploy grease guns correctly. Transfer Containers With transfer containers, typically an initiative is launched to purchase sealable and refillable (S&R) versions, but no one ever follows up to ensure they are utilized to their fullest extent. Most facilities struggle with leaving spout tops open, staging them next to an asset outdoors, or cleaning the inside and outside of the containers. Lubricant-Dedicated Handling Another common issue is not dedicating items for specific lubri- cant types. Flushing methods can be used to limit the number of handling resources, such as filter carts, pumps and transfer containers, but this generally is not recommended, as there is always a risk of cross-con- tamination. Calibrated Grease Guns It is rare to visit a site where the correct grease, volume and frequency have been verified for the assets. Inconsistencies are often seen in the amount of grease delivered by different styles and types of grease guns. Proactive measures, such as grease gun calibration, metering and other predictive maintenance technol- ogies, can help to avoid these issues. Training Reliability engineers and lubrica- tion champions usually receive some type of training, but the training component should be extended to include all individuals involved in the program. A training matrix also should be developed. e type and depth of training should vary according to each individual's involve- ment. Basic awareness training for the team is frequently enough to identify initial improvement actions. Formal Training Personnel involved in lubrication on a daily basis should consider formal certification-based and non-certifica- tion-based training. ese training sessions may vary from a few hours to a couple of days and should provide both classroom and field exercises. Topics generally include lubrication concepts and fundamentals, lubricant selection, oil analysis, contamination control, lubricant disposal practices and program development. Informal Training While formal training frequently receives most of the attention, informal training is often overlooked. Brief 15-minute conversations with maintenance or operations personnel who may perform lubrication tasks on a monthly or quarterly basis can help to ensure engagement of crafts- people and enable new improvements, metrics and concerns to be discussed. Computer-based Training Computer-based training (CBT) is becoming more and more popular. is type of training can help address attrition gaps in a lubrication program by introducing or re-emphasizing lubrication basics and best practices. Standardizing a training method for new or transferred employees will set the standard for lubrication expectations at the facility. Although documentation will be the foundation upon which habits and behaviors at the site are built, computer-based training can assist in this process. Recognizing the Gaps If your organization currently falls short in any of these program elements, you are not alone. By under- standing and recognizing where the gaps are in your inventory manage- ment, labeling, documentation, contamination control, lubricant handling and training, you should be able to identify low-hanging fruit to help develop your program and achieve long-term success. ML About the Author Matthew Adams is a technical consul- tant for Noria Corporation, concentrating in the field of predictive maintenance. He has experience in multiple condition-based maintenance technologies and focuses the majority of his attention on lubri- cation program development, training and general consulting. Matthew holds a Machine Lubricant Analyst (MLA) Level III certification and a Machinery Lubrication Technician (MLT) Level I certification through the International Council for Machinery Lubrication (ICML).Contact Matthew at madams@ noria.com to find out how Noria can help you identify the low-hanging fruit in your lubrication program. PERSPECTIVE