MAP YOUR LUBRICATION PROGRAM'S WORKFLOW

Throughout my career in lubrication something has become apparent as it relates to many lubrication programs out there; there is a lack of an actual workflow that is expected to be completed in the program.

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For most operational or production-related events, there are dedicated processes, systems, and checklists to ensure that they are completed uniformly and consistently. However, when we look at lubrication, nothing exists.

Oftentimes, there is a maintenance workflow that is overseen by planners and schedulers to make sure things aren't getting missed, but once again, lubrication is left on an island and there are assumptions made that it is likely getting done but we don't know for sure.

While there can be workflows for many tasks around the lubrication program, let's hone in on just those that are related to the application of a lubricant to the machine.

The process of lubricating equipment is one of the most important tasks we perform in maintenance. It has more impact on the overall reliability of the equipment than many other maintenance activities. Lubrication is also performed more frequently, in many cases, than other maintenance work so we need to ensure that it is being performed

This is where we encounter one of the first problems plaguing many lubrication programs, often the lubrication work is assigned in a scheduled PM that includes many other tasks. While it is a common practice, we begin to lose the insight on the lubrication work itself as it becomes diluted with the other random tasks that exist on the same PM.

We need to break lubrication into its own activity that becomes more trackable and with more detail. When lubrication exists in a PM with other work, the instructions are often vague, and we miss many of the details required for proper lubrication.