The practice of neglecting lubrication has become ingrained in the maintenance culture. For these companies, more than casual intervention may be required. Instead, an ultimatum must be declared.

Otherwise, past practices and bad habits will return. Six clever ideas to revive a neglected lubrication program are discussed below.

Source: Noria 

1. Admit negligence and decide to do better

Admitting negligence over lubrication can be a significant first step to reviving your lubrication program. Businesses expect that lubrication issues will resolve themselves. Instead, these problems keep coming back. Thus, admitting that your attempts to stabilize machine reliability have become unmanageable will help you do your goals and move further.

Once you decide to do better, you must believe that there is a greater maintenance intelligence than your own that could guide you in restoring your lubrication program. Information and knowledge are all around us, but they must be sought and embraced to be helpful. Thinking that there is a better, more intelligent approach to lubricating machines fuels change.

2. Educate yourself on Modern Lubrication

Educate yourself in modern lubrication, and make an inventory of your lubrication and maintenance failings based on this new knowledge. Education lets us see what's wrong and what needs to be changed. Taking stock of what needs to be improved gets the ball moving.

3. Prepare and ask for support

Begin preparing for the lubricant transformation journey by following a systematic approach that involves training, design, documentation, implementation, and measurements. Transforming past lubrication practices into a program of excellence requires a grand master plan.

Next, ask support from managers, financial executives and fellow employees to join you on this transformation journey. Reliability is everyone's responsibility. Active and regular support is critical. The desire to increase team enthusiasm and excitement is also essential. Cultural unity enables cultural transformation. Fragmented efforts cannot transform anything.

4. Make a list of all the neglected machines

Some machines may have been addressed. By knowing which machine needs modernized lubrication, the transformation master plan can begin in earnest. High-criticality and bad machines usually fall into this category. Others that are less obvious need to be considered as well.

Finally, beginning with the most neglected equipment, make amends by removing the source of our lubricating problems and introducing acceptable current methods in restitution for previous acts of neglect.

Describe the present and future lubrication statuses of each machine in the transition. A lubrication audit assists in defining the existing condition, whereas a design activity helps characterize the future state. Lubrication design includes lubricant selection, contamination control method, sampling and analysis, inspection, and procedure documentation.

5. Create reminders

Fend off the allure of transgression by posting continuous reminders of the costs of past lubrication practices and by keeping these ever-present in your work environment.

Relapse and failure are always lurking. Your defense should always be on top of your guard by staying alert through constant reminders and continuous improvement. While improvement may no longer be a pressing necessity, it does reduce the likelihood of return.

6. Inspire others

You must carry these six clever ideas to others who neglect lubrication and practice these ideas with vigilance and resolve in all future maintenance affairs.

Those organizations that have crossed the chasm to lubrication excellence are responsible for serving as role models and mentors for others who have yet to begin the journey. Be an excellent teacher by motivating others and sharing your knowledge.

Lubrication Program Development

CRE Philippines's partner, Noria, designed an entire lubrication program that provides a detailed plan that addresses all lubrication-related work processes and procedures from purchasing down to the required re-grease volume for every bearing in the plant. With CRE Philippines' experience, partnership with Noria, and a focused team of lubrication engineering professionals, it will only take weeks or months to design and implement a world-class lubrication program that would usually take you years or decades to finish. With our Lubrication Program Development, we will do the work to deliver you detailed work plans and summary abridged work plans so you can focus on what you do best.

Source: Noria

CRE Philippines also offers Machinery Lubrication Training. If you do not know what you are doing is wrong in lubrication, you may do more harm than good. Lubrication must be done right by choosing the proper lubricant to apply at the right time, place, and quantity. From Noria's resource speaker in the Philippines, learn the best practices for utilizing, monitoring, and applying lubrication at your facility. Contact CRE Philippines for more information on our Lubrication Program Development or our training.

Source:

Fitch, J. (n.d.). 12 Smart Ways to Revive a Neglected Lubrication Program. MachineryLubrication. Retrieved from https://www.machinerylubrication.com/Read/811/lubrication-12-step-program