Wall of Saves

wall-of-saves

One of the big focuses for the employees at POLARIS Laboratories® is, “Why do we do what we do?” The answer is easy. We save equipment.  We test oil, fuel and coolant and provide maintenance recommendations on the results. This keeps our customer’s equipment and their businesses operating smoothly. Everything we do comes back to the end goal of helping our customers.

One of the ways that we keep this idea in the forefront is by posting all of the equipment saves reported to us by our customers on our “Wall of Saves”. 2016 was a great year with 385 saves posted to the wall. A few of our favorites from the past year include:

  • We found fuel dilution in the diesel engine of a large crane. The customer saved $11,500 by replacing a fuel pump instead of having to do a complete engine rebuild.
  • By identifying elevated wear in the transmission of a combine, the owner only had to replace a small gear. This prevented the need for a $75,000 transmission overhaul.
  • Water was found in a dump truck hydraulic system due to a fill cap being left off. A cap replacement and oil change saved this customer $7,000 and caught the issue before a spongy hydraulic system put any people at risk.

How has using oil analysis helped your company? You can share your story using the actions taken feature of HORIZON® or contact our data analysis team directly using the call number on your report. We’d love to add your big win to our wall of saves!

robin-mcnabb

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Understanding Maintenance Types

maintenance-types-explained

Reactive: Something just broke, we need to fix it.

Preventive: Experts and manufacturers say something might break. We need to fix it when they say to fix it.

Predictive: Our technologies say something is about to break, so we need to fix it.

Proactive: Technology says something is about to break. We need to fix it and figure out what caused it.

 

The terms reactive, predictive, preventive and proactive maintenance are used a lot. Unfortunately, there is some confusion about where these terms should be used.  Here is a guide to the proper use of these maintenance terms.

Reactive maintenance is reacting to a situation as it occurs.  It is the most basic type of maintenance. There is virtually no thought put into this type of maintenance, and is the least cost effective – allowing extended downtime, unplanned outages and overtime to occur.

Preventive maintenance involves schedules and routines.  The manufacturer recommends a lubricant change at 400 hours, so the lube change is scheduled to occur as close to 400 hours as possible.  This is fairly easy to implement and is far more cost effective than reactive maintenance. However, it takes no outside influences into account, thus there is still unplanned downtime.

Predictive maintenance allows technology to look at each system and component individually and apply maintenance as it is needed.  This can be expensive to set up and develop. However, once the program is established and maintained with properly trained and educated personnel, it will save far more money over time than a preventive maintenance program.

Proactive maintenance takes predictive maintenance further, figuring out there is a problem and then asking: What caused the problem? Could it have been prevented? How can it be fixed? The question is then pushed to resolution.  It is predictive maintenance with an added RCA component.

Have questions? Contact our data analysis team directly using the call number on your report.

Proven Impact. Proven Uptime. Proven Saving.
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A New Year, A New Bottle

new-year-new-bottle

The New Year is here and we can’t keep a lid on our excitement. As our holiday gift to you, we are providing a new sampling jar to our customers. While the bottle itself is not bigger, it is certainly better.

Keeping your concerns in mind, we’ve selected a bottle that is better equipped for sampling. Whether you have issues with leaks or are concerned about sample bottle cleanliness, this bottle is made for you.

What makes this bottle better?

  1. It’s translucent, making it easier to see the color of the sample and the fill line.
  2. It can withstand the higher temperatures that come with pulling high heat fluids.
  3. The new cap design has a wedge seal to prevent leaks. The locking feature also helps ensure the cap doesn’t loosen when the sample jar cools.
  4. When tested, this bottle’s cleanliness is comparable to the Super Clean ISO standards.
  5. With the same volume and same threads, there’s no need to change the pumps.

If you have any questions about this change, contact us at custserv@eoilreports.com. In the meantime, keep an eye out for the new bottles!

One more thing…

Happy New Year from POLARIS Laboratories®!

michelle-desjardins

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Happy Holidays from the POLARIS Laboratories® Family

2016-holiday-card

‘Tis the season! Now is the time of the year where we gather together and enjoy the company of our friends and family. Whether you are spending this holiday season curled up by the fire or knee deep in snow, I hope you enjoy everything this time of year brings.

One of my favorite parts of the holiday season is spending time with my family at POLARIS Laboratories®. Whether it’s taking part in our annual gingerbread house competition or testing the dozens of desserts at our bake-off, I’m happy to spend time learning about my colleagues and celebrating the holiday season together.

Our team has put together a number of our own holiday traditions. One of my favorites is our holiday card contest. Here is what the little ones came up with this year.

cookies-on-horizon joy-and-peace snow-family science-in-wonderland

It has been a wonderful year at POLARIS Laboratories®, full of changes and exciting new opportunities. I want to thank you so much for playing such an important role in our business.

Happy holidays from our family to yours!

michael-desanto

Q&A: Technical Business Consultants

q-and-a-tbc

Read this Q&A to learn how our technical business consultants, Randy Clark and Henry Neicamp, can help you improve your maintenance program. 

What is a technical business consultant?

Randy: I once had someone tell me that a consultant is someone who ‘borrows your watch and then tells you what time it is’. In some ways, this is true. We take an in-depth look at our customers’ fluid analysis statistical data and use this information to assist them in narrowing the focus and priorities of their maintenance program, thus achieving their goals quickly and efficiently. These goals typically include reducing unplanned/unscheduled maintenance activities, reducing cost, and ultimately increasing production by improving equipment availability.

Henry: POLARIS Laboratories® technical business consultants are STLE certified to provide training and consulting services, along with data analysis services, in an effort to help the customer maximize the return on investment of their fluid analysis program and realize Proven Impact, Proven Uptime and Proven Savings!

How do you help our partners reach their reliability goals?

Randy: We accomplish this by first understanding the goals the customer wishes to achieve, we then perform a gap analysis to understand where the customer is today in relation to those goals, and then help develop a clear road map to the objective. We do this using our ‘hands on’ experience, knowledge of industry best practices, and in-depth knowledge of fluid analysis. We then combine our skills with the customer’s knowledge of their equipment. Along the way, we identify KPI’s (Key Performance Indicators) to monitor the progress. We also identify and share ‘quick wins’. Doing this accelerates the buy-in process among everyone involved and promotes the value of the program. Throughout the process, an emphasis on continuous improvement and training will play a key role.

Henry: The technical business consultants achieves this mission by  providing consulting services, sales support, customer field support, and training for public and private sessions.

What is the most common problem you see in a newly created fluid analysis program?  

Randy: Understanding the capabilities a quality fluid analysis program offers, and then aligning the goals of your program with those capabilities is essential. Many customers make a decision to start a fluid analysis program and yet do not ensure the test package selected is designed to meet those goals. Failing to properly identify, in advance, what equipment will be sampled, the frequency of the sampling interval, and the lack of proper training can be detrimental to the success of the program.

Henry: Customers do not take the time to determine the goals for their fluid analysis program (i.e. reduce downtime, extend oil drain intervals, reduce failures, extend equipment life expectancy, control maintenance and lubrication costs, etc). Secondly, customers do not submit a completed equipment list to POLARIS Laboratories® for input into our system prior to submitting their samples.

What is the best piece of advice you have for someone trying to improve their fluid analysis program?  

Randy: Establish goals, monitor progress and uphold accountability. This is best accomplished by having a program champion within the organization. This champion will ensure samples are pulled on time and pulled correctly. They will also ensure proper maintenance activity occurs following the laboratories’ recommendation. The champion will monitor progress and continuous improvement of the program, through established KPI’s, and will work with both their team members and the laboratory to optimize the value of the program.

Henry: The single most important ingredient in a successful oil analysis program is a “champion” inside it. A “champion” is a person assigned to take the lead and focus on the fluid analysis program. A “champion” should be passionate to save the company money, while working from the inside to generate greater customer implementation/compliance. A “champion” promotes the importance of fluid analysis to all maintenance personnel, and facilitates the required “behavioral change”.

What is the best way to set up a training class?  

Randy: It doesn’t get any easier than this. Simply contact a POLARIS Laboratories® technical business consultant. We look forward to discussing and preparing a customized training plan to meet the needs and goals of your organization.

Henry: Customers should contact their respective technical business consultant (east or west) directly via email or phone.

Contact Randy Clark at rclark@polarislabs.com or via phone at 317.808.3750 x. 1337.
Contact Henry Neicamp at hneicamp@polarislabs.com or via phone at 317.808.3750 x. 1339.

To learn more about our technical business consultants’ services, download their brochure.

randy-clarkhenry-niecamp

 

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What is a Program Champion?

program-champion

Program champions are the individuals responsible for ensuring your fluid analysis program is effective. The right program champion can provide you with the continuous leadership, visibility and accountability you need to ensure your fluid analysis program is headed in the right direction.

When choosing a program champion, make sure you identify an individual who is committed to your program and capable of overseeing the people, the process and the technology from start to finish. Choosing the right champion for your team is a necessary step to ensure your equipment remains up-and-running.

If you’re interested in securing your program success, I recommend you start developing your program champion today. To help your champion make the transition, we’ve put together a checklist to guide them through the right actions to take at start-up, daily, weekly, monthly and semi-annually.

program_champion_checklist-copy

Please feel free to download the program champion checklist. I also recommend you attend our February 3 webinar on the impact of a program champion. This 40 minute presentation is now open for registration. If you have any additional questions, please contact one of our technical business consultants, Henry A. Neicamp  at hneicamp@polarislabs.com or Randy Clark at rclark@polarislabs.com.

ieshia-hill

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Employee Perspectives: Giving Thanks

thanksgiving

While the holiday often causes us to pause and reflect on all we should be thankful for, I must say everyday I walk out of the doors of POLARIS Laboratories® with a feeling of gratitude.

I’m grateful for our amazing customers who’ve challenged me to innovate new concepts. I’m grateful for a company who encourages me to grow both professionally and personally. I’m grateful to have a place for turning my ideas into reality. I’m grateful for a job where I always find myself learning.

Most importantly, I’m grateful that five days a week I get to spend my time working with the people that make POLARIS. We challenge each other by asking, “What can we do better?” We laugh with each other, ensuring that we never take anything too seriously. We encourage each other through long weeks and tight deadlines. And we offer each other support on those dreadful days when the coffee machine breaks down.

My heart is filled with gratitude to be a part of this amazing team – these crazy people are the best!

liz-yust

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Interested in Starting Your Fluid Analysis Program?

oil

Change. Some people love it, some people hate it. It doesn’t matter what type of person you are, making the switch to a POLARIS Laboratories® fluid analysis program is an easy change to make.

We’ve set up our onboarding process so you can easily transfer your existing program from another laboratory or even start a brand new program.

Making the switch is easy.

Phase 1:

  • Check to make sure the test package(s) you order will give you enough information to accomplish your goals. Make sure the tests are appropriate for all of your equipment and fluid types.
  • Sign and return the proposal as soon as possible.
  • Designate one or more staff members to oversee your fluid analysis program and mentor staff during the startup.

Phase 2:

  • Submit invoicing addresses, shipping addresses, account information, packaging requirements and contact information.
  • Fill out a spreadsheet with component information for each piece of equipment. Historical sampling data can be transferred to our system so established trending isn’t lost.

Phase 3:

  • Identify and train staff on accurate sampling methods. Educate team members on the use of your fluid analysis program, HORIZON®, HORIZON Mobile and sample submission.
  • Order the sample jars, labels, mailing containers, tubing, pumps and valves needed to help you take samples. Activate our automatic resupply feature to never run out of consumable materials.
  • Establish a regular timeline to submit samples of a component and coordinate it with your PM intervals.

That’s it! Once you’ve completed these step, you’re officially a POLARIS Laboratories® partner. If you’re ready to make the switch, feel free to contact us today.

We’ll help you put this plan into action!

zach-thomas

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Diesel Fuel Testing: Necessary or Not?

diesel-fuel-2

Necessary! Absolutely necessary! Diesel fuel often develops a number of common conditions. Don’t be fooled. These issues can have a serious impact on your engine’s health, causing significant damage and sometimes even engine failure.

To learn about the common symptoms of poor diesel fuel, check out the solutions sheets below. They can tell you everything from what type of issues to look for to what kind of testing package you can use to prevent future damage.

quality-assurance-button tank-degradation-contamination-button mechanical-engine-damage-button emission-system-problems-button
poor-injector-performance-button stalling-and-or-loss-of-power-button smoking-machinery-button fuel-filter-plugging-button

We’ve also put together a resource you can use to determine if diesel fuel testing will provide value for your program. You can access it here. If you have any questions about the resource or diesel fuel testing, please feel free to contact us today.

We’re prepared to help you out!

chris-verticle-blog-posting

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Oil Analysis 4.0: Introducing DataConnect

dataconnect

Introducing Oil Analysis 4.0, a new way to manage your fluid analysis! This new feature, developed by our IT and development team, automatically retrieves your latest HORIZON® data for integration, making it easier for you to analyze the health of your equipment. We call it DataConnect. 

The benefits of moving all of your information to one system are clear. Not only will it give you a better view of your maintenance program but it’ll also grant you greater flexibility so you can react quickly to your fluid analysis results. By maximizing your program’s efficiency, you’ll also be able to:

  • Better reach your business objectives
  • Increase your return on investment
  • Prove the value of your program to your leadership team

Using DataConnect, all of the information you need will be in one place. No more flipping from one program to the other. No more trying to connect the dots. Whether you need to analyze the status of your sample or view the testing data, you can do so in your own program. 

If you’re interested in using this service:

  1. Discuss with your IT team about how to take advantage of DataConnect with your existing systems.
  2. Submit your request for DataConnect by emailing custserv@eoilreports.com. Please include your IT contact so we can provide them with the details.
  3. Our IT department will then provide information about connecting your system to DataConnect.

Our IT and development team is constantly working to improve your user experience by adding innovative new functionality to HORIZON. If you have any questions about how Oil Analysis 4.0 impacts your business, please feel free to contact us at custserv@eoilreports.com.

ryan-haman

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