Lubrication management: follow the lubricant through its life
Receiving, storing, transferring, applying, monitoring and disposing. A plant that manages each step lubricates better than one that only buys better grease.
A proactive discipline
Lubrication management is the systematic application and control of lubricants to reduce friction, heat and wear. Done well it prevents breakdowns, cuts downtime and maintenance cost, and extends equipment life. It also improves safety and environmental compliance.
The lubricant lifecycle
- Select: the right lubricant for the conditions and the component type, geometry, speed, load and temperature.
- Receive and store: clean, labelled, covered and in date order.
- Transfer: dedicated, clean transfer equipment for each lubricant, so grades are not mixed.
- Apply: the right amount, with the right method, at the right time, to the right point.
- Monitor: levels, cycles, oil analysis and condition data.
- Dispose or recondition: regenerate oil where that is sensible and dispose of the rest responsibly.
The five rights
The right lubricant, in the right amount, with the right method, at the right time, to the right lubrication point. If any one of the five is wrong, the others cannot rescue the bearing.
Treat it as a skill
Lubrication is a skilled job. Training on lubricant selection, storage, transfer and application, plus routine recording, is among the cheapest reliability investments a plant can make.