Equipment reliability assessment establishes baseline and blueprint for lubrication reliability program

An equipment reliability assessment is an important first step for any organization wanting to institute a lubrication reliability program. The assessment will help you understand your current lubrication practices and challenges, and determine what improvements can be made to improve your operational efficiency. The goal of the equipment reliability assessment is to establish a baseline, and the output will be a blueprint for implementing your lubrication reliability program. LE's certified and trained lubrication experts can perform assessments onsite for you.

The main benefits derived from the assessment are maximization of lubricant and equipment life, increased operational capacity, reduced unplanned downtime, and consolidation of lubricant inventory.

LE's equipment reliability assessment consists of a professional onsite evaluation of all equipment requiring lubrication and includes reviews and recommendations of the following:

• Lubrication storage and handling practices to ensure oil cleanliness
• Elimination of particulates or moisture ingression in equipment to keep oil clean and dry
• Filtration or contamination removal methods to maximize lubricant life
• Oil analysis test methods and expert interpretation of reports to monitor oil condition and equipment wear

Easy opportunities for improvement and cost savings

It is not uncommon in most organization that rely and depend on heavy equipment to find opportunities for improvement in maintenance lubrication practices. By tackling these opportunities, organizations can reduce costs and enhance profits. This can be done with very little additional capital, using the manpower already existing in the operation. Some of the simplest opportunities are often overlooked or ignored. Following are some opportunities that you can address to have immediate impact on your operation.

Lubricant storage, transfer and handling

Is your lubricant storage facility open to the environment? Are drums open or stuffed with dirty rags? Is lubricant transferred to the equipment using old coffee cans or open containers? Improving your lubricant storage, transfer and handling practices can help stop contamination at is source. You can protect the lubricant from water and particulates before they can make their way to the equipment.

Lubricant consolidation

Do you use a variety of lubricants in the operation? Have you evaluated to make sure you have the right lubricant for each application? A thorough investigation of the equipment often reveals opportunities to consolidate lubricants as well as to replace incorrect lubricants with the correct ones for the applications.

Oil analysis

Do you understand what is happening inside your equipment? An oil analysis program could be the answer to preventing costly repairs and unplanned downtime. Oil analysis can also help safely extend the life of the lubricant by ensuring that it is still doing its job. Oil analysis is simple and cost-effective.

Visual inspection

Dirt, rust, varnish, water, missing or broken reservoir caps, open hatch covers, damaged seals, gaskets, and leaks provide clues about what is happening with the equipment and the oil. Visual inspections often uncover opportunities for improvement.

LE offers full-service support for lubricant reliability programs

In addition to our equipment reliability assessment, onsite consultation and service, LE provides the following customization and value-added options:

• Design, implementation & support of lubrication reliability program
• Onsite support throughout the life of the program
• Lubricant and reliability product recommendations
• Training & education for personnel

LE is happy to offer industrial lubricant and reliability recommendations for a variety industries and applications, and to provide product-specific data on all of our items to help you make the right decision. To learn more about our enhanced lubricants and lubricant reliability products and services, please contact LE today.