Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/359954
www.machinerylubrication.com | July - August 2014 | 15 the integrity of each preceding link in the chain as well as on the information provided about the machine's operating and environ- mental conditions. Takeaway: End users often do not have enough time to interpret oil analysis results and must rely on the laboratory for interpre- tation. Without an accurate interpretation, effective oil analysis cannot be achieved. Enhanced Data interpretation by the End User Following the laboratory's interpretation, the end user must make the final decision. No one knows the machine's history and application better than those who see the machine on a daily basis. If these individuals were trained to interpret oil analysis reports, the program's success could be improved. Takeaway: The end user is primarily respon- sible for the data interpretation and understands the machine's operating condi- tions better than anyone else. There is not a more qualified individual to include in the data interpretation. Take Corrective Action and Determine the Root Cause Obtaining a representative oil sample and using a capable laboratory are pointless if corrective actions are not taken to prevent a failure. You should not expect a return on the time and money spent unless action is performed as a result of the oil analysis. Be sure to always follow up on the results and form a consensus on what the corrective action should be. Remember, the problem will only persist if the root cause isn't discov- ered and resolved. Takeaway: Oil analysis cannot be justified without findings that lead to the prevention of a mechanical failure. Optimizing oil analysis only makes sense when it is used as a tool for greater reliability. Continuous improvement and Sampling Adjustments Oil analysis never seems to get enough credit. Whenever it is effective in providing proactive maintenance, machine failures cease. Over time, people may forget that the lack of failures is attributed to oil analysis. Maintaining this awareness through contin- uous improvement will be key for success. Making adjustments to alarms and limits or sampling frequencies may be necessary for true optimization. Takeaway: Just as important as determining the sampling frequency for each sample port, periodic adjustments to these frequencies should be addressed as further evidence of how change can be achieved through oil analysis. Utilizing Oil Analysis as a Key Performance indicator (KPi) Oil analysis performance indicators are essential for realizing the overall health of a plant over time. In comparison, analytics are conducted on blood work results throughout a hospital or even throughout a certain geographic region to identify potential trends of a growing health concern or a dangerous outbreak. Likewise, while oil analysis KPIs may be beneficial for your machines, they also can prove to be valuable indicators of the progress made in improving your plant's overall health as well as the advantages of oil analysis. Takeaway: KPIs help you to recognize when there is a weak link in the chain. A perfor- mance indicator like a regression in oil analysis returns should be a call to action to re-evaluate which of the previous chain links has been compromised. Justifying a plant- wide oil analysis program will require these types of metrics. About the Author Bennett Fitch is a technical consultant with Noria Corporation. He is a mechanical engineer who holds a Machine Lubricant Analyst (MLA) Level III certification and a Machine Lubrication Technician (MLT) Level II certification through the International Council for Machinery Lubrication (ICML). Contact Bennett at bfitch@noria.com. • Efficient, Transparent, Fast • Customer-Driven Services • Industry Experience • Technical Expertise • In-Depth Analysis Better Service, Better Results Scan to get your copy or visit http://apexoillab.com/mlm/ 1-844-APEX-OIL apexoillab.com Free Get a Copy of "12 Sharp-Shooting Tips for Rapidly Interpreting an Oil Analysis Report" Expect More From an Oil Lab Set Your Expectations High We'll Meet You There 3 Objectives of Good Oil Sampling 1. maximizE data density 2. minimizE data disturbance 3. sElEct the proper frequency