Machinery Lubrication

Machinery Lubrication July Aug 2013

Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation

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Arguably, the most important role of lubrication procedures is that they form the basis for training lube techs. allowing 15 seconds to elapse between shots, this desire can be clearly documented in the procedures. Consistency In the absence of procedures, five technicians are apt to perform the same task five different ways. Without a procedure, each individual has the freedom to "personalize" the task at hand. This inconsistency produces undesirable results. Documented procedures bring uniformity into the lubrication task while keeping everyone on the same page. Best Practices A procedure creates the framework for standardizing best practice. It serves as the container in which to pour the experience and expertise of employees, outside consultants, vendors and others into a single document. This convergence process also enables the team to align the procedure to the organization's goals. Just enough "best practice" for one machine may be too much for another, depending upon the relative importance of the two machines to plant operations, even if the two machines are identical in design. The benefits and drawbacks are cumulative. By refining your strategy, working through the details and devising high-value procedures, you can add long-lasting value. Every dollar saved through a new lubrication improvement is saved over and over again. This is called an annuity. It makes each dollar saved worth much more than the face value of the initial dollar saved. The process is both orderly and detail-oriented. Consider operational circumstances and then correctly identify the right product, the right place, the right amount and the right time, and then apply these practices with the right attitude. To achieve and maintain a competitive position in a hypercompetitive world, a company must work as a team to build value in each segment of the process. The development of world-class lubrication standards and practices is long overdue in many organizations and will soon become an absolute necessity if my recent experiences are a barometer of the changes that will soon be affecting us all. About the Author Jeremy Wright is vice president of technical services for Noria Corporation. He serves as a senior technical consultant for Lubrication Program Development projects and as a senior instructor for Noria's Fundamentals of Machinery Lubrication and Advanced Machinery Lubrication training. He is a certified maintenance reliability professional through the Society for Maintenance and Reliability Professionals, and holds Machine Lubricant Analyst Level III and Machine Lubrication Technician Level II certifications through the International Council for Machinery Lubrication. Contact Jeremy at jwright@noria.com. Training Arguably, the most important role of lubrication procedures is that they form the basis for training lube techs. Basic training about lubrication, lubricants, oil analysis, etc., is designed to provide the foundation that enables the individual to think like a lube tech. Certification is another critical part of the training process because it confirms that the individual possesses the skills to perform the job functions. This is called technology training. While it is important, technology training fails to convey specific task-based instructions for completing a lubricationrelated work order. A set of procedures serves as a natural curriculum for task-based training. It also serves as the basis for evaluating an individual's ability to carry out the assigned tasks. Combining basic technology training and third-party certification with task-level training and skill verification creates a powerful combination and a valuable employee. Adding Value The perpetual nature of the lubrication process offers both challenges and rewards. www.machinerylubrication.com | July - August 2013 | 7

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