Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1470959
ML ML www.machinerylubrication.com | May - June 2022 | 27 ML same machine type, discussing failures with mechanics and operators, observing failures in the field and conducting failed part autopsies. ese facts are combined with expertise and key performance indicators (example: MTBF) to get a full picture of the current state. How much did these ten actions cost the maintenance manager? Effectively zero. If you are convinced that you don't have enough resources to devote to lube proactively because you are too involved reactively, perhaps you should consider a career change. You must passionately believe the only way to dig out of a reactive maintenance death spiral is to practice proactive maintenance, predictive maintenance and problem-solving. Tomorrow will not be better without these. You must use the leverage you get from these best practices. Your job is to get the "flywheel" of reliability turning before seeking outside sponsorship. e speed of this rotation is your creditability. With creditability, investment will come seeking you. is happened to me. e plant manager was so impressed with our results that he asked me what it would take to go faster. We asked for $100,000 to improve our lubri- cation storage, transfer containers and autopsy area. We had funding that week. You must understand that every reliability tool, including lubrication, is designed to elim- inate waste. A mantra of "we attack waste" is what I recommend to every reliability and maintenance organization. Not only is this accurate for what each best practice is designed to do, but it also aligns top management to the shop floor, conveying what you are trying to do in simple, everyday repeatable terms. Let's face it: we have made reliability too complicated. Further, a waste mantra is always in vogue regardless of the business cycle you are in. is enables reliability change efforts to accelerate in both good times and bad. I promise you; your existing lube program has waste in it. Know it through observation. Fix it. Communicate results, linking them to your actions. Improve. Lube can be an excellent first step in your reliability journey; it was for my team. However, you must earn creditability by doing the basics well before selling any idea or change to top management. Prove you are a great steward of precious resources and watch the time, money and resources flow. As Yoda says, "Do or do not, there is no try." ML