Page 371 - Reciprocating Compressors Operation Maintenance

356 Reciprocating Compressors: Operation and Maintenance

maintenance personnel receive is by word of mouth and by on-the-job
training. On-the-job training is excellent as long as what is taught is cor-
rect. Unfortunately, improper maintenance techniques and "traditions"
are often passed on by the person in charge. Needless to say, this con-
tributes to problems and loss of reliability. It is therefore necessary that
all personnel be given training on proper and up-to-date techniques of
operating and maintaining compression equipment. This training must
include all personnel and supervisors as well as the hands-on mainte-
nance people.
A training plan obviously is an important part of any preventive main-
tenance program. This detailed plan must describe the requirements for
improving and/or maintaining the training required for long-term equip-
ment reliability.
Effective training requires the development of technical training mate-
rials on the plant's specific compressor. Adding appropriate classroom
and on-the-job training will allow employees to apply relevant knowl-
edge and skills to the subject of compressor operation/maintenance.

Many plants use maintenance contractors to perform defined mainte-
nance on their compressors. As with every endeavor, there are advan-
tages and drawbacks. A contract service enables the plant to perform
planned maintenance instead of just reactive maintenance. This is often
the primary reason for engaging a contract service.
There are other reasons for using a contract maintenance service, as
well as reasons why a plant may not want to use one. Some plants argue
that no one could understand their problems. Experience shows that the
use of contractors may lead to a hands-off policy. This has sometimes led
to an abdication of responsibility to the point where nobody is responsi-
ble for compressor maintenance. It is important to remember that hiring a
maintenance contractor does not mean that the plant has no stake in com-
pressor maintenance.

SELECTION OF A CONTRACTOR

Because the contract service business requires low capital investment,
it occasionally attracts participants who have neither the knowledge nor
the technology to properly service compressors. For this reason, it is