Five Common Mistakes Made when Developing an Inspection Route

Developing and implementing inspection routes is a key part of a successful lubrication program.

- Bennett Fitch

Factor: H5M

Inspection routes are complex, and the reality is that just because they are being performed doesn't mean they are being performed correctly. Let's look at an example: 

Larry Smith is a lube tech. He has a few years of experience in this role but no formal training. His inspection route for today includes 64 machines spread throughout four different areas of the plant a task that should take Larry four to six hours to complete. Larry is given simple instructions to "inspect"; it is also assumed that he will take corrective actions when needed.

At each inspection, Larry relies on his intuition. He looks at sight glasses (where available) to determine the oil level, and when necessary, he tops up the oil. He also looks for abnormal conditions, fixing the things he can (like a hatch left open), and noting unusual conditions that he can't address immediately (spent breathers, loose bolts on machine footing, leaky drain ports, gauge issues, etc.). Many of the machines that Larry inspects are not equipped with sight glasses, greatly limiting the scope of Larry's inspection abilities and leaving him only able to make general observations.

How does Larry's inspection route compare to your inspection routes? Are you relying on your intuition and experience alone to know what to look for? Do your machines lack the hardware to allow for good inspections? Here are some mistakes that, when fixed, will greatly improve the effectiveness of Larry's work.

5 Common Mistakes made when Developing an Inspection Route

1 Not Giving Inspections Enough Importance