Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1536853
Start Your Free Weekly Machinery Lubrication eNewsletter Subscription! 58 Reliable Plant | www . reliableplant.com Machinery Lubrication | www . machinerylubrication.com 2025 Annual LUBRICANT HANDLING & RECEPTION Focusing on Fixes Guided by Noria's initial ASCEND™assessment, the Woodgrain team elected to focus improvements and modification efforts on their hydraulic systems first. Hydraulics were prioritized due to their significant downtime, associated costs, and the large volume of oil needed if these systems were contaminated. Lubricant filtration systems with inline particle counters and desiccant breathers were installed on all their hydraulic units in the plant. Since doing so, the team has seen a significant reduction in failures and downtime with this equipment, subsequently giving the team additional time to improve the mean time between failures on bearings and other equipment classes. Investing in Oil Analysis Once the team had identified its largest opportunity for improvement (contamination), they also added a few more tools to combat it. Specifically, they invested in a new on-site oil analysis lab. e team can now make informed lubrication decisions using data analyzed by its lab. Samples are taken from installed oil sampling ports that are compatible with vacuum sampling devices. is keeps the samples from being exposed to environmental contaminants, reducing the amount of contamination that is introduced during sampling and ensuring that their samples are representative of what's going on inside their machines. Woodgrain's lead lubrication technician is dedicated to their lubricant analysis program, taking monthly samples that the team can regularly monitor for solid contaminants and moisture. Written proce- dures are also in place for sampling, including how to flush sampling equipment and properly handle samples throughout the process. Platforms and Technology To schedule lube tasks and measure key performance indicators (KPIs), the team began using LubePM, Noria's Lubrication Management System. is cloud-based software platform delivers real-time alerts from inspections and tracks the lube technician's time, as well as the amount of grease and oil used. e team also installed a condition-based monitoring system by deploying sensors throughout the mill. ese devices monitor bearings and motors and have already begun paying for themselves. Since installation, these sensors have indicated lubrication issues that the team was then able to resolve before these relatively small issues developed into larger problems. With plans to install more sensors on maintained assets, the team estimates they have already seen nearly $500,000 in downtime savings. Training as a Team e team has also partnered with Noria to begin training and preparing their members for the MLT I certification, and management is committed to providing its staff with training to obtain the necessary certifications. Establishing this common base level of understanding will help ensure that the team's new program is sustained because everyone will have an understanding of why it's important. What's Next? Johnston believes other plants in the company should implement a lubrication excellence program like theirs. With management 100% bought in, and nearly two years of transformative work in the books, Johnston reflected on his team's progress. "We are seeing the culture shift among the maintenance staff. is reliability team functions together. e team may have technology specialization, but communication is clear between members." "With the full implementation of the lubrication program we've been able to create a more consistent and efficient system," added Ingerson. Johnston says there are plans to attend industry conferences, like Reliable Plant, which will see professionals in every industry gather in Chicago from June 2-5, 2025, to help further their knowledge and share their own experiences. ey also recently implemented ultrasonic greasing and plan to expand their use of vibration analysis, as well as maintain a continuous training schedule for additional team development. ML From left to right: Les Patterson (Lubrication Technician), Mike Thurston (Lubrication Technician), Kevin Ingerson (Leader Lubrication Technician). machinerylubrication.com