Machinery Lubrication May June 2014 May June 2014 | Page 20

MLI

FROM THE FIELD
JEREMY WRIGHT NORIA CORPORATION

FROM T
ROM THE
FIE
FIELD

How LUBRICANT SUPPLIERS
Impact Machine RELIABILITY
Plants often do not take into account

62%

supplier.

the effect that the lubricant supplier
can have on machine reliability. If left

I like to use a simple checklist when

unchecked,

conducting a supplier audit. It helps

the

results

can

be

catastrophic.

of lubrication professionals never visit
their lubricant supplier, according to a
recent survey
at MachineryLubrication.com

remind me to be vigilant on key
practices and physical attributes that

You might be surprised what you can

are associated with the optimum

learn from a quick visit to your lubricant

reference state of handling lubricants. I

condition. It must be free of spilled oil,

supplier. Does your supplier know your

usually start with an overview of the

settled water and dust. The building

reliability and lubrication goals? How

storage facility and how lubricants are

should be enclosed and, if possible,

can suppliers help you succeed if they

handled. The first observation should

climate-controlled. All products should

have no idea that you are playing for

be related to the identification of

be in sealed containers, stored indoors

the same team?

lubricant-handling equipment. Are all

away from direct sunlight and not

lines and tanks clearly marked for a

allowed to collect rain water on the top

Supplier audits are a small part of

specific lubricant? If not, the likelihood

edge.

Noria’s service offerings. In this article, I

of

will share a few key tips that have been

significantly higher.

cross-contamination

becomes

learned over the years so you can be
better informed when visiting your

The inventory in the warehouse should
be rotated so that the oldest containers

The warehouse should also be in good

are being used first, while the newest
containers are sent to the back.

5 Tips for Dealing with Your Lubricant
Supplier

Remember that the cleaner, cooler and
drier the lubricant is kept (even when in
the sealed drum), the longer it will last.

1. Audit your oil supplier routinely.
2. Establish clear parameters and work with suppliers to help them achieve
the improvements that are necessary.

If you can witness the handling and

3. Expect the lubricant supplier to conform to new, higher- quality expectations.

supplier visit, watch for instances of

4. Include mill mechanics and lube technicians in the process.

all

5. Provide training to reinforce the necessity and benefit of the new
measures.

dedicated or at least flushed well

18| May-June 2014 | www.machinerylubricationindia.com

transferring of lubricants during your
cross-contamination. Make sure that
transport

lines

are

product-

between uses. For bulk incoming