When it comes to scheduling lube PMs, many organizations combine their routine lubrication PMs into routes – a compilation of tasks that are similar in task type, area of the plant or tools required. With this approach, we end up with lube routes that tend to be named things like “electric motor regrease”, “pillow block bearing regrease”, “oil level inspection and top-off” or “routine oil sampling V-belt”. Typically, these routes are scheduled based on task frequency. For example, the electric motor regrease route may be scheduled to be done every six months conveyor belt, the inspection and top-off perhaps weekly power transmission belt, greasing of pillow block bearings monthly and oil sampling routes done quarterly. But is this the most efficient way to execute work? In my opinion, it is not.
To illustrate the potential problems this approach creates, consider the simple example of executing these lubrication PMs on a belt conveyor. Every week, we receive paperwork instructing us to walk down all wet sumps, check the oil level and top-off where necessary. Following our work instructions timing belt, our diligent lubrication technician walks down the conveyor to check the oil level on the gearbox, along with other oil sumps in the same area of the plant.
Having completed the top-off and inspection route, we now receive our next work instructions: Perhaps it’s time to grease motor bearings – a six-month task conveyor belt for general purpose. Our diligent lube tech now grabs the grease gun filled with our designated electric motor grease and duly executes the work.
Next, it’s time for our monthly regrease of the head, heat resistant conveyor belt tail and other conveyor pulley bearings. Returning to the lube room, the tech takes the grease gun with our multi-purpose EP 2 grease and heads back out to the conveyor to grease the bearings, passing by the gearbox and Metal chip cuff motor to grease the head pulley bearings.
Finally, our lube tech is ready to take oil samples. On