Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1378657
32 | May - June 2021 | www . machinerylubrication.com LUBRICANT SELECTION Lubrication Topic 1 Step 1 Worst Case Step 3 Step 5 World Class How much time, money and effort to spend Step 2 Step 4 Current state Future state Site Grease Gun Application Development Random grease guns with no dedication Standardization and dedication Standardization, dedication, coding and calibration Standardization of grease guns Standardization, dedication and coding Oil Replenishment and Transfer Development Plastic funnels Paper, one-time use funnels Sealable containers with the use of quick disconnects Dedicated plastic funnels sealed after each use Sealable containers with the correct size spouts Mobile Filter Cart Development No filter cart utilization One filter cart for all site lubricant uses Dedicated filter carts for each lubricant type/ family Dedicated filtration for each site lubricant each dedicated grease gun type — follows the dedication step procedure very closely but provides even further advancement with regards to management. is step is imper- ative if sites have several team members from one or more departments involved in re-lubrication tasks. e final step is the calibration of the grease guns themselves. I use this term broadly as there are several options at this juncture. The use of ultrasound-aided implementation, grease volume meters or the actual calibration of grease guns using a weighted average can all suffice. Over the years of traveling from site to site, I have noted all levels of grease gun development, and it is worth stating that this is a basic practice that most lubrication program owners should consider fully implementing, especially if it is a larger site with multiple team members. Oil Replenishment and Transfer Development Another great example of this practice can be completed in the advancement of oil transfer. Just as we covered grease replenish- ment through the use of a grease gun, oil replenishment — while often automated — is also carried out through manual practice. Developmental steps for oil transfer often look like the following: 1. Plastic funnel 2. Dedicated funnels sealed after use 3. Paper one-time use funnels 4. Sealable containers with correct size spouts 5. Sealable containers with quick disconnects It is very common to see plastic funnels in use at sites within the lubrication program. While containing spills is paramount regarding costs and environmental implica- tions, there are better options available if the program is open to positive change. Often times I find plastic funnels randomly stored on the top of cabinets or, even worse, directly below "bad actor" components that are prone to leaks or top-offs. While logistically leaving these funnels nearby makes topping