Any industrial organization understands that there are a number of underlying costs that linger amongst all of their operations. While there may be a price tag associated with certain products or commodities, the truth is it can be hard to determine how much something will actually cost after years of use and ownership. The same can be said for what needs to be invested to make sure everything is functioning properly. This post will detail some of these hidden costs within the industrial setting, specifically related to poor lubrication practices.
Every piece of equipment in an organization’s fleet deserves quality care, as this care ensures each piece of equipment can perform at optimal levels. Quality care starts with routine maintenance, proper lubrication and regular oil changes. Though it may seem easy, finding the time to maintenance each piece of equipment in any operation can be a challenge; one that ends up costing an organization a great deal of capital if not handled correctly.
Just what are some of the costs that business incur when attempting to resolve the woes of their equipment? The first is unnecessary oil changes, as businesses mistakenly believe their machines’ problems can all be solved from an oil change. Not only do these organizations have to then pay for the oil change, but they’ll also be responsible for the spend necessary to solve the problem.
More costly than unnecessary oil changes, though, are the various damages that machinery goes through in its lifetime. One simple mistake can result in a costly error for organizations to solve. An over or under-filling the sump or reservoir, for example introduces a new cost for organizations to handle. The same can be said for contaminated or incorrect product runoff. The damage they resolve will also require maintenance and subsequent downtime, keeping organizations from operating at max efficiency.
Worst of all, the businesses that are least prepared for these situations are the ones that deal with the longest periods of downtime as a result of equipment failure. Most machine failures are attributed to improper maintenance resulting in bearing malfunctions. With almost 40-50% of machine failures citing improper lubrication or re-lubrication of bearings, it’s clear how profound of an issue this has on organizations. While it can be expensive to replace the bearings, realizing a machine is non-operational will cut much further into the pockets of an organization.
No business should be without a sound strategy in regards to maintenance and caring for their equipment. With the available preventive measures, there’s no reason to ever fall behind in terms of maintenance and lubrication. To learn more about how your business can stay prepared in these circumstances, be sure to read on to the infographic paired alongside this post. Courtesy of Isomag.