Plant Lubrication Surveys
Plant Lubrication Surveys
Many people define a lubrication survey as a complete list of all oil and grease lubricated equipment with an appropriate product recommendation listed next to each component. While there can be no doubt that making sure the right product is selected for the right application is critical, there is so much more to good lubrication than product selection. In the past few years, there has been a growing trend in establishing lubrication management programs, and these organizations have been reaping the rewards.
Assessing fluid storage and handling is a vital component of an effective lubrication survey.
The lubrication management concept takes a holistic approach to lubrication. In this approach, lubricants are considered not as consumables to be purchased at the lowest price, but as an asset to be managed and nurtured. This nurturing process starts the day the lubricant arrives onsite, and ends the day the oil is drained from the component and disposed of appropriately. In doing so, the key areas to consider include:
- Lube standards, consolidation and procurement
- Lube storage and handling
- Oil sampling techniques
- Contamination control
- Training, skill development and certification
- Lubricant analysis
- Lubrication/relubrication standards and best practices
- Program management
- Procedures and guidelines
- Program goals and metrics
- Safety and disposal guidelines and best practices
- Continuous improvement
For a lubrication management program to be effective, all of these areas must be assessed, and improvements made to bring current practices in line with industry best practices if necessary.
The lubrication and oil analysis survey process is an incremental approach to assessing the strengths and weaknesses of a plant lubrication program and charts a course for ongoing, sustained improvement.
