Page 220 - Intro Predictive Maintenance
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adjust the lubricant targets and to reflect and provide early warnings of leaks in the
coolers.
Targets and Alarms
Original equipment manufacturing (OEM) operating specifications or the guidelines
of a recognized governing body can be used in setting the minimum alarms. These
alarms must be set considering all of the previously collected information. These set-
tings must provide early detection of contaminants, lubricant deterioration, and present
equipment health. These achievable targets should be set to supply an early warning
of any anomalies that allow corrective actions to be planned, scheduled, and performed
with little or no effect on production schedules.
Database Development
A database should be developed to organize equipment information and the collected
data along with the equipment-specific targets and alarms. This database should be
easy to use. The end user must have control of the targets and limits in order to reflect
the true equipment-specific conditions within the plant.
In ideal circumstances, the database should be integrated into a larger predictive main-
tenance database that contains all information and data that are useful to the predic-
tive maintenance analysts. Combining vibration, lubricating oil, infrared, and other
predictive data into a single database will greatly enhance the analysts’ability to detect
and correct incipient problems and will ensure that maximum benefits are obtained
from the program.
9.2.2 Lubricant Audit Process
Equipment reliability requires a lubricant that meets and maintains specific physical,
chemical, and cleanliness requirements. A detailed trail of a lubricant is required,
beginning with the oil supplier and ending after disposal of spent lubricants. Sampling
and testing of the lubricants are important to validate the lubricant condition through-
out its life cycle.
Lubricant Requirements
Information from the equipment audit supplies the physical and chemical requirements
of the lubricant to operate within the equipment. After ensuring that the correct type
of lubricant is in use, the audit information ensures that the correct viscosity is used
in relationship to the true operating temperature.
Lubricant Supplier
Quality control programs implemented by the lubricant manufacturer should be
questioned and recorded when evaluating the supplier. Sampling and testing new