Page 223 - Intro Predictive Maintenance
P. 223
214 An Introduction to Predictive Maintenance
lubricants and equipment. At this time, observations in the present operating and envi-
ronmental conditions should be recorded. This schedule of the routine monitoring
must remain timely and repetitive for effective trending.
Routes
A route is designed so that an oil sample can be collected in a safe, unobtrusive manner
while the equipment is running at its typical full-load levels. These routes should
allow enough time for the technician to collect, store, analyze, and report anomalies
before starting another route. If the samples are sent to an outside laboratory, time
should be allocated for analyzing and recording all information once the data are
received.
Frequency of Monitoring
The frequency of the inspections should be based on the information obtained in the
audit and baseline signature stages of program development. These frequencies are
equipment specific and can be changed as the program matures or a degrading
condition is observed.
Tests
Testing the current condition of critical plant equipment is the goal of the oil analy-
sis program. Technicians who report alarms proceed into exception testing mode (i.e.,
troubleshooting) that pinpoints the root-cause of the anomaly. At this stage of inter-
facing, other predictive technologies should be implemented, if applicable. Testing
by the maintenance group or the laboratory group requires a maximum of a 24-hour
turnaround on exception tests. A 48-hour turnaround on routine tests supplied by
the laboratory would be considered acceptable.
Post-Overhaul Testing
After completing an overhaul or replacement of a new component, certain oil
analysis tests should be performed to ensure that the lubricant meets all equip-
ment requirements. These tests become a quality check for maintenance activities
required to perform the overhaul and supply an early warning of problem
conditions.
Contractor Overhaul Templates
Components not overhauled in an in-house program should have a guideline or tem-
plate of the overhaul procedures and required component replacement parts. These
templates are a quality control measure to ensure that the information in the audit data-
base is kept up-to-date but also to ensure compatibility of components and lubricants
presently used.