by Ken Bannister, MEch (UK), CMRP, MLE, Editor | Jan 16, 2021 | Asset Management, Lubrication Corner
A manufacturing client recently asked me a seemingly difficult question: Does a simple, universal, inexpensive, easy-to-implement maintenance strategy that’s capable of substantially increasing machine reliability and availability actually exist? My answer...
by Ken Bannister, MEch (UK), CMRP, MLE, Editor | Dec 19, 2020 | Asset Management, Lubrication Corner
In my Dec. 12, 2020, article, “ Improve Hydraulic System Reliability For Just Pennies A Day” (see link below), I used the term “creep to failure.” It describes mechanical systems that continue to work, albeit inefficiently, for long periods of time,...
by Ken Bannister, MEch (UK), CMRP, MLE, Editor | Dec 12, 2020 | Asset Management, Lubrication Corner
Despite their complexity, hydraulic systems are forgiving in nature. In most cases, they can perform well for a long time before any major or catastrophic failure occurs. Unfortunately, this “creep to failure” quality can promote apathy in production and maintenance...
by Drew Troyer, CRE, CMRP, Editor | Nov 21, 2020 | Asset Management, Lubrication Corner, The Sustainable Plant
The potential to reduce the environmental impacts of industrial operations with better management of parasitic frictional losses is well-documented. The science and technology associated with surfaces in relative motion, including friction, wear, and lubrication is...
by Ken Bannister, MEch (UK), CMRP, MLE, Editor | Nov 20, 2020 | Lubrication Corner, RAM Tools & Methods
All bearings are destined to eventually fail. While ineffective lubrication practices are, arguably, the greatest contributing factor in such failures, the root cause(s) are rarely investigated due to production and maintenance turnaround demands. It’s...
by Ken Bannister, MEch (UK), CMRP, MLE, Editor | Oct 31, 2020 | Lubrication Corner, Planning & Scheduling
Talking about the weather is a national pastime. It would appear we are obsessed with it. Yet, many maintenance organizations are often poorly positioned to deal with the problems that weather changes pose for their facilities and machinery, especially when cold...
by Ken Bannister, MEch (UK), CMRP, MLE, Editor | Jul 10, 2020 | Lubrication Corner
In 1966, at the height of the “swinging sixties” movement, the world of lubrication, friction, and wear finally received worldwide recognition as a scientific entity responsible for continued machine health and asset longevity. In retrospect, such recognition...
by Ken Bannister, MEch (UK), CMRP, MLE, Editor | Jul 3, 2020 | Lubrication Corner, RAM Tools & Methods
In the maintenance world, tools are indispensible in that they allow a maintainer to perform and complete work in a safe, consistent, and efficient manner (see article “Using the Right Tool for the Job”). When we think of tools, most will immediately picture a...
by Ken Bannister, MEch (UK), CMRP, MLE, Editor | May 22, 2020 | Asset Management, Lubrication Corner
Throughout their working life, lubricants are subjected to a variety of negative influences that can include load induced shear stress, thermal degradation, water contamination, aeration, wear metal catalyzing, and contamination from dirt, chemicals, and mixing with...
by Ken Bannister, MEch (UK), CMRP, MLE, Editor | Feb 14, 2020 | Lubrication Corner, Maintenance Management
There are few definitive studies on rolling-element bearing reliability /life that are based on industry uses and working conditions. There are, however, many claims that indicate the vast majority of such bearings never achieve their engineered-life rating (some...
