Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1336798
10 | January - February 2021 | www . machinerylubrication.com The Argument for a Single Lube Supplier this process should be viewed as an opportunity. It is a chance to form a strate- gic relationship with an outside organization that will help you achieve goals, not only in lubrication, but in reliability as well. " " Condition Monitoring, Lubricant Analysis & Troubleshooting LUBRICANT SELECTION Wes Cash | Noria Corporation Factor: S2P W h i le c ho o si n g t he proper lubricant is the f irst important step in any lubricant selection process, a similar amount of consideration should be given to picking the correct lubricant supplier as well. Your objectives or reasons for switching lubricants or adding a new lubricant to your inventory are also important parts of your decision. In fact, this process should be viewed as an opportunity. It is a chance to form a strategic relationship with an outside organization that will help you achieve goals, not only in lubrication, but in reliability as well. Partnership The ideal lubricant supplier should be more of a partner in success rather than a transactional figure. e process of purchasing lubricants should be thought of as a partnership in the supply chain of the oil or grease that needs to be applied to the machinery. e supplier plays a key role in this part- nership. e lubricant manufacturer likely ships their product to their suppliers, who hold an inventory of those products on hand to be delivered to their customers when demand arises. is means there are warehousing activities for packaged lubricants that must be performed properly as well as decontamination and contamination control best prac- tices that must be adhered to for any bulk lubricants. Since the supplier will be handling all the lubricants prior to them arriving at your plant, you want to make sure they share your vision and goals for controlling the lubricant properties and storage conditions. While this may sound trivial, it does ensure that the partnership aspect of the relationship isn't overlooked. ere are many services and processes that the supplier may be able to offer that make the work much more manage- able for your on-site lube team. is mutual relationship helps ensure that the supplier, the customer and the equipment all win. Why you may want one supplier ere are many reasons why it is common for facilities to use multiple lubricant suppliers. For some, there are specialized pieces of equipment that may take specialized lubricants or specific brands. When these lubri- cants are outside the normal brands your supplier carries, it is common for plants to use multiple lubricant suppliers to cover these needs. When new equipment is under a warranty period and the lubricant is speci- fied by the manufacturer, some are reluctant to deviate from that speci- fication as well.