Performing a Program Review


Today I want to get into the nuts and bolts of the review and what to do with the results.

First of all, reserve at least 1 hour of uninterrupted time for the review. Make sure you invite key personnel to attend and everyone is prepared. 

An effective program review will provide answers to the following questions:

        1. What are the goals of the review?
        2. Is your equipment list up to date?
        3. Is your fluid information up to date?
        4. If you test both lubricants and coolants, are you using both sets of data to see if an issue in the cooling system is affecting the lubrication system?
        5. Is the total number of samples increasing or decreasing?
        6. What information did you discover during the review?
        7. What action will you take to resolve problems?
        8. When will you perform the next review?

Make sure everyone leaves the review with a clear expectation of what needs to happen in the future and when it needs to be accomplished. Write down notes from the meeting, assignments and deadlines.

Performance reviews can be a lot of work, but the process can push a fluid analysis program to the next level. If you need assistance setting up a program review, have questions for the Field Services Team or just want to share the results of a successful review, please contact me. I look forward to hearing from you!

Proven Impact. Proven Uptime. Proven Savings.
Let us prove it to you.

Taking Action On Maintenance Problems Pays

Fluid analysis program reviews can identify root causes of common breakdowns in order to help maximize their fluid analysis investment. Usibelli Coal Mine implemented process changes after their program review which produced compelling, business-improving results. The company is taking action on more recommendations, the number of components with severe problems is dropping and more units are being adequately sampled.

Prior to the program review, Usibelli did not consider contamination to be a contributor to their maintenance issues. POLARIS Laboratories® conducted a fluid analysis audit of the company and discovered several system wide problems that allowed contamination into the lubrication, which led to equipment wear.

Read the Full Case Study

 

Evaluating the Effectiveness of Your Fluid Analysis Program


Every day I consult with companies about their fluid analysis programs. The majority of them know they could do more to maximize the benefits, but they don’t know all of the different things they can improve or how much it will help them.

Here are the 10 questions we ask our customers to find out how effective their fluid analysis program is.

          1. Has a complete equipment list been compiled and sent to the lab?
          2. Have you set definable and measurable goals for your program?
          3. Has the proper testing regime been selected for each unit type?
          4. Have your personnel received training on proper sampling techniques?
          5. Are samples taken in a timely manner and at consistent intervals?
          6. When maintenance is recommended by the lab, are work orders issued for maintenance or other diagnostics?
          7. How do you evaluate the effectiveness of your program?
          8. How do you evaluate cost savings attributed to your fluid analysis program?
          9. What are the qualifications of the lab you have selected?
          10. Does your current program have immediate access to your data?

If you don’t have an answer for each of those questions, you are most likely not getting what you could out of your fluid analysis program. Contact us today to set up a full, onsite Fluid Analysis Program Assessment so you can achieve all of the financial benefits of a world class fluid analysis program.

Proven Impact. Proven Uptime. Proven Savings.
Let us prove it to you.

Published March 4, 2014

Avoid Catastrophic Failures

Pulling a boat out of the water for repairs is an expensive wake-up call for marine-based businesses, especially when the damage was preventable. A company in Florida lost nearly $100,000 in replacement parts, repair charges and lost productivity to dry dock a boat after a hydraulic motor suffered a catastrophic failure. The company used this expense as a catalyst to improve their fluid analysis program.

Read the Full Case Study

 

Building the Road to Fluid Analysis at CONEXPO/CON-AGG


CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2014, the premier construction equipment, technology and product show in North America commences this week, and POLARIS Laboratories® is ready. As one of the 2,400 exhibitors and 125,000 attendees, we look forward to seeing the newest innovations and bleeding-edge technology that will propel construction companies into the 21st century.

However, fluid analysis isn’t a new concept for most attendees of CONEXPO-CON/AGG. Most industry experts know what it is and how it can help them, but are they taking advantage of everything fluid analysis offers? Or simply, can they afford to continue not taking advantage of the proven results of fluid analysis?

We want our customers’ fluid analysis to be the MVP of their maintenance and reliability program. We know it helps equipment run longer and reduces maintenance costs, things that can make or break construction companies. We’ve seen our customers enjoy a 25-, 30 and even 40-to-1 return on their fluid analysis investment, all with proven and reliable technology.

How can we make this significant return the norm for attendees of CONEXPO-CON/AGG? We’re committed to continue improvements to providing maximum quality, increased speed and greater accessibility to our analysts and certified consultants. At the same time, we’re making sure our customers can leverage our information by taking action on the recommendations. What good is having a star player on your team if they sit on the bench for most of the game?

Presentation at IFPE on Thursday afternoon
Speaking of star players, we’re proud to be able to show one of our own at IFPE, a conference co-located with CONEXPO-CON/AGG. Data Analyst Jawad Khan is presenting on the effects of water contamination and how you can address the problem in the South Hall-Bridge Meeting Complex on Thursday, March 6, 2014, at 2:15 p.m. We’re excited to have our technical expert available at both shows to talk to attendees about water contamination and other fluid analysis concerns.

Stop By to Learn More
To learn more about how you can get the most out of your equipment, remember to stop by Booth #64715 in the South Hall 1-2.  Our team will share how POLARIS Laboratories® can provide the information necessary to improve your maintenance and make your company more profitable. I look forward to seeing you there.

Proven Impact. Proven Uptime. Proven Savings.
Let us prove it to you.

Published March 3, 2104

Weathering the Storm: The parallels of Winter and Fluid Analysis


This weekend I’m headed to Tampa Bay, Florida to join our vice president of sales for a presentation to one of our top customers. Naturally, after the cold and snow that gripped most of the country over the past six weeks, I’m looking forward to going someplace warm. Yet, I have to admit winter could have been worse. The weather models provided accurate, reliable and timely predictions, which helped many of us avoid the challenges of delayed shipments, flight delays, stalled traffic and increased probability of car problems.

I’ve been able to draw a timely and compelling parallel between the weather models and the benefits of equipment condition monitoring, when done properly. With the right fluid analysis partner, you also can capture accurate and actionable management information about your equipment, fleet and more.

With more information about what’s going on inside your equipment, you can take your fluid analysis program to the next level and make more informed maintenance decisions. When equipment wear shows up on your radar, you can improve production through fewer unscheduled breakdowns. Finally, when your company takes action on the information you’ve received, you can save time and money by avoiding hidden costs. Our customers have come to recognize the proven impact, proven uptime and proven savings that come from partnering with POLARIS Laboratories®.

Finally, thinking about my trip to a much-appreciated warmer climate reminds me of one reliable success story where a Florida company reaped the benefits from proven impact, proven uptime and proven savings. Can you afford not to know the forecast of your equipment?

Proven Impact. Proven Uptime. Proven Savings.
Let us prove it to you.

Published February 21, 2014

Particle Cleanliness

It’s incredibly important to keep lubrication clean in order to protect components. Particles find their way into the lubrication through air movement, seals, lubrication degradation, wear metals and residual particles from manufacturing. When these particles circulate at high pressure/ velocity though a system, they can potentially cause erosion.

However, the largest wear comes from particles getting caught in load areas, such as piston walls, gear systems and other load zones. When particles are large enough, they prevent the lubrication from taking the load and are compressed and/or slid between two components. A particle hard enough will damage the metal instead of breaking. Metal damage always introduces more particles into the system, which increases the rate of wear.

Fluid analysis companies normally express test results in the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standard for cleanliness so they speak the same language as the lubrication suppliers, filter manufacturers and end users. The ISO 4406:1999 standard utilizes a three number system to classify system cleanliness – example: 19/16/13. The first number represents the number of particles present measuring greater than 4μm. The second represents particles greater than 6μm and the third represents those greater than 14μm.

Most customers use particle counts to identify when a system has been contaminated so they can address the particle ingression before cleaning or replacing the lubrication. Samples can be pulled before and after in-line filters and compared to see if the filter is operating properly.

Proven Impact. Proven Uptime. Proven Savings.
Let us prove it to you.

Published February 10, 2104