I
f you were to visit 20 different plants,
you likely would find 20 different ways
of managing machinery lubrication, some
of which would be less than ideal. ere
is no need for this situation to exist. is
article outlines 60 best practices that a good
lubrication program should contain. These
practices cover five major categories: people,
methods, lubricants, hardware and problem
solving. ey are intended to help you minimize
gear and bearing failures as well as reduce lubri-
cant costs and lube-related downtime.
PEOPLE
1. Training
In the past, most of the individuals who
oversaw the lubrication requirements of
industrial plants were self-taught. Even today,
there are few schools where you can obtain an
education in the art and science of lubrication
practices. e theory of lubrication is better
served but usually by courses within other
degrees. However, information on applied
lubrication is available, and people charged with
keeping their employer's equipment running
smoothly should avail themselves of it. Oil
companies continue to upgrade their training
programs, and independent firms specializing
in lubrication training have emerged to fill the
gap. Still, maintenance organizations must
make a concerted effort to educate their teams
on lubrication best practices.
2. Pay Scale
ere's an old saying that the only people
in the maintenance department who truly
COVER STORY
10
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May - June 2020
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www
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machinerylubrication.com
By Thomas L. Lantz, Lantz Consulting Services