Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/957021
6 | March - April 2018 | www . machinerylubrication.com breathers, hose connections, sight glasses, gauges, etc. Some inspection points are not visible. For instance, consider the inspection task of touching the upper inside wall of the gear case through the fill port with your fingers. e inspection is looking for moisture condensation and soft deposits. is inspection point is not visible but necessary to assess certain headspace and lubri- cant conditions. Another example might be the use of a probe or dipstick to reach into the machine to collect inspection data. Some inspection points may need to be created or installed. A large, inspection-ready machine is usually accessorized with an array of inspec- tion windows, gauges, test points, sample valves, sediment bowls, etc., which are required to fully achieve the inspection objective. Inspection readiness enables better inspection quality (effectiveness) and frequently faster inspection, too. While there may be some costs associated with inspection hardware installation by the asset owner, the benefits can often produce multiples of that cost. Inspection Tasks and Methods K nowing where to inspect is just the start. Next, perform the inspection (or make the observa- tion) as designated by the inspection plan. is can be extremely simple (e.g., determining the oil level from the sight glass) or much more complex (e.g., using a laser pointer to conf irm the presence of hard or soft particle contamination). If the task or method involves many steps or requires special techniques or tools, the inspection plan must reference a procedure. The proce- dure is a documented method of performing certa in inspections and includes the steps, tools and means of data collection. Inspector Skills, Training and Qualification Inspection 2.0 requires qualified inspectors who possess the skills needed to perform the tasks and methods in the inspection plan. e more complex the inspection method or task, the more there is a need for a detailed inspection proce- dure and training by the inspector to that procedure. An inspector must qualify to perform inspections. is means you can't give the inspection assignment to just anyone regardless of education, work expe- rience or responsibility. Engineers with advanced degrees don't have the skills to meet the inspection tasks defined by Inspection 2.0. It's like fly fishing. You can't give a rod and a box of artificial flies to a highly educated individual and expect him or her to wade into the stream and catch trout. If this person has never fished before, no trout will be caught. Tools Needed Inspection must be enabled to achieve condition monitoring quality and effectiveness at its full potential. is is the essence of Inspection 2.0. As mentioned, this increasingly means modifying and accessorizing machines to inspect better and to reach new inspec- tion points. Inspectors also need a toolbox, as would any professional or tradesperson, to function fully in their craft. Many tools or inspec- tion aids enable inspections that otherwise could not be performed. In other cases, they might reduce the time required to complete an inspection and/or enhance the quality and effectiveness of the inspection. e inspection plan (or the referenced procedure) should list each of the tools needed. Don't cripple inspection performance by pretending to save money scrimping on inspector tools. Inspection Findings and Data Collection e type of inspection data to be collected and the manner in which it will be reported should be included in the inspection plan. is can reduce the variability that could occur if, for instance, two inspectors performed the same inspections on the same inspection point using the same methods and inspection aids. It is best if data collection is uniform and has structure. is is the concept behind using a form or checklist for paper-based data collection. Ha nd held elec t ron ic d at a collectors can show images and comparators to more precisely score an inspection result or finding. Rather than a binary yes or no response, the results may be scaled from 1-10. Each possible result on this scale is defined by a range of comparator images or a short narrative using the data collector's software interface. This reduces individual subjectivity and provides a scalable, analog-like feature to capture and quantify the degree of changing conditions. Numerical data collection from inspection routes can be integrated with condition monitoring software to reveal patterns of changing conditions across an array of data types on the same machine and machine condition. Inspection Routes Many inspection points can be compiled and arranged into a route 26% of lubrication professionals say enabling inspections of their in-service oil and machinery would be the most likely reason for making machine modifications at their plant, based on a recent poll at MachineryLubrication.com AS I SEE IT