Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/325287
42 | May - June 2014 | www.machinerylubrication.com ML Get tO K NOW Q: How did you get your start in machinery lubrication? A: I started my career with SaskPower in 1979 as a dragline oiler. At the time, the company ran draglines with 400-foot booms and 90-yard buckets. I graduated to dragline operator and held the position for five years. I then moved to a coal-fired power plant in Saskatchewan and worked as a coal handler until I was appointed to an apprentice millwright position. I worked as a journeyman millwright and then as a mechanical foreman. This included working with and supervising welders, machinists and millwrights, as well as various contractors. I have been in the oil analysis busi- ness for three years. Q: what types of training have you taken to get to your current position? A: As a dragline oiler and operator, I took a basic lubrication prin- ciples course. I also have my supervisor's certificate for open-pit mining. As a journeyman millwright, I completed an introduction to vibration technology course as well as a reliability-centered maintenance program. I have taken courses for steam turbine generator maintenance and oil analysis for proactive maintenance. Q: what professional certifications have you attained? A: In 1992 I received my industrial mechanic (millwright) provincial trade certification, and in 2011 I earned my Machine Lubricant Analyst (MLA) Level I certification from the International Council for Machinery Lubrication (ICML). Q: Are you planning to obtain additional training or achieve higher certifications? A: I plan on obtaining my MLA Level II and III certifications in the future. It is my goal to have our oilers also earn Machine Lubrica- tion Technician (MLT) Level I and II certifications. Q: what's a normal work day like for you? A: Our team is made up of one oiler, one millwright and me. In the morning, we meet in the oil room and discuss the plans for the day. We talk about equipment permits, safety issues and the day's work. I check any oil issues that may have been written up the night before and put them in the schedule according to priority. Any oil addi- tions or breather changes would be done that day. Following the crew meeting, I check certain pieces of equipment that may have concerns. I also check the oil analysis reports and schedule work orders to remedy any problems. I research our equipment to find out what oils the manufacturer recommends. This will allow me to see if we can consolidate the oils. I also research breathers, filters and oil-related equipment so we can improve maintenance, make our jobs easier and extend the life of our equipment. We wrap up the day with a short meeting about what happened that day and what needs to be done the next day. Q: w hat is the amount and range of equipment that you help ser vice through lubrication /oil analysis tasks? A: We are kept busy with sampling and monitoring our two turbine passion for Improvement leads Crooks to successful Oil analysis Program Four years ago, a change in management at SaskPower's Poplar River Power Station (PRPS) in Saskatchewan, Canada, led to a new way of thinking. Mechanical foreman Mark Crooks was asked to initiate and implement a lubrication program and improve on anything that was already in place. When Crooks asked, "Why me?" he was told, "You have a passion for improving the lubrication prob- lems in the plant." Over the past three years, Crooks has been in the lead support role for the company's oil analysis program and has been educating employees on the importance of clean oil, proper oil handling and keeping oil reservoirs and gearboxes as clean as possible. He knows that once these ideas become common practice and the routines become a habit, everything will start to flow more smoothly. years of Service: 34 years Company: SaskPower Location: Saskatchewan, Canada Name: Mark Crooks Age: 59 Title: Mechanical Foreman