Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1487844
www.machinerylubrication.com | November - December 2022 | 27 ML ML ML BENEFITS OF ONSITE ANALYSIS Turnaround time — Perhaps the most significant tangible benefit to performing the testing under your own roof is the ability to sample and analyze much quicker than what is traditionally possible when using a commercial laboratory. A scenario such as someone hearing a strange noise or noticing an increase in temperature could trigger an immediate response; we could receive useful data in a matter of hours to make corrections and stave off failure or downtime. Data availability — When the analysis is performed in-house, it is easier to create your own data repository or data archive. is could include any known faults and the corresponding analysis that confirmed them. Take this a step further and include the corrective action taken and the results of that action, and you are now building out a decision matrix for your equipment based on your own onsite analysis. is could be a powerful tool, especially in the age of staff turnover and retirees taking decades of experience with them when they leave. Customized testing — If you were to build your own testing program, you could piece together the exact tests and instruments that give you the most useful data based on your application and environment. You wouldn't be constrained by the ability of the commercial labs or their testing equipment. Some people have even modified test standards to better meet their needs, further streamlining the analysis process. Centralized testing capabilities — For some facilities, there could be a geographical advantage to onsite testing, especially if there are multiple facilities in close proximity. One of the facilities can act as the hub or the lab, with the other facilities sending their samples for analysis. I've seen this done very successfully in a plant not far from our office. is helps dilute the cost of the equipment and the ongoing cost of upkeep. Program ownership — Once you take control of your testing and results, you truly are the owner of your analysis program. is can help convey a sense of pride throughout the team and serve as a critical piece of your lubrication program. Oftentimes, people see the creation of an onsite lab as an opportunity for advancement from lube tech to lab tech and as a visual reminder of the importance of lubrication overall. DRAWBACKS OF ONSITE ANALYSIS Cost — Naturally, the most common roadblock is the cost of starting an in-house lab. While most people would focus on the cost of the actual equipment, there are other expenses that would need to be justified as well. Depending on the number of samples per day, week or month, there could be someone dedicated to operating the lab, interpreting results and setting corrective actions. is person would not only have to be trained in the equipment but also in oil analysis, so not only is there a personnel cost, but a training cost to coincide with that. For many of the oil analysis tests, reagents, solvents and general consumables such as oil-absorbent materials will be required. Lab space — e lubricant analysis lab should have a mostly dedicated space in a climate-controlled area in the plant. Special consideration needs to be given to cleanliness, ease of mobility within the space, and access to a computer station to record the results. Space like this can be at a premium at most industrial facilities, and sometimes this will need to be constructed, or a plug-and-play solution for officing may have to be used. Blind spots — As most onsite labs can't produce the full scale of what a commercial lab can, there can be blind spots in the data that might not point out an impending problem. Testing needs to be stacked in such a manner that the strength of one test can provide insight for another test that might have weaknesses in that area. Too often, people rely on a single test to tell them everything about the fluid and the machine; this just isn't effective. e same conversation can be had about using a commercial labora- tory for all analyses. While it does address some of the issues that arise with onsite testing, it is not without its own drawbacks. ird-party testing is a key piece to nearly everyone's lubricant analysis program, but it is important not to just stumble in blindly to anyone that is capable of testing lubricants. You need to carefully consider if an outside lab is right for your program.