Are You Listening to What Your Machines Are Saying? Oil Analysis’s Strength in Preventive Maintenance
Unexpected breakdowns in industrial machinery are more than just a hassle; they have a direct negative impact on your bottom line by resulting in costly downtime, postponed projects and costly repairs. However, what if these failures could be anticipated before they occur?
Although your equipment may appear to be silent, it is continuously communicating with you regarding its condition. The ability to listen is essential. And the oil in your machine is the best indicator of its health.
Your Machines’ Secret Language
Tiny metal, fuel, or impurity particles are left in the lubricating oil each time your engine or hydraulic system runs. These particles convey a narrative. Are certain parts deteriorating? Does your coolant have a leak? Does the oil itself have a limited shelf life?
Here lies the role of oil analysis. You can decipher this coded language and obtain a clear, non-invasive look inside your machinery by sending a small sample of the oil from your equipment to a lab for testing. Similar to a blood test for your equipment, it provides important information that would never be discovered by a visual inspection alone.
The CBM Revolution: More Than Just an Oil Change
In the past, maintenance has been either preventive (sticking to a strict schedule even when parts are still in good condition) or reactive (waiting for something to break). Although it is an improvement, preventive maintenance may result in needless labour and part purchases.
Because of this, the future of equipment management lies in a Condition-Based Maintenance (CBM) program, CBM makes well-informed maintenance decisions using real-time data, such as that from oil analysis. When analysis indicates that a filter is no longer operating at its best, it should be replaced rather than at 500 hours. This method guarantees that you only carry out maintenance when it is absolutely necessary.
As a component of a CBM program, oil analysis allows you to:
Identify Early Wear & Corrosion: Find tiny metal particles that signal early wear on important parts so you can swap out a minor part before a major one fails.
Reduce Downtime & Increase Machine Availability: By resolving problems early on, you can plan maintenance at a time that works for you, avoiding expensive and unforeseen shutdowns.
Reduce operating expenses by maximising oil change intervals and delaying the purchase of new parts until absolutely required. Your maintenance budget will be significantly reduced as a result of this.
Extend Equipment Life: By taking proactive measures to prevent damage to your machinery, you can maximise your return on investment and ensure that your priceless assets continue to function for many years to come.
Begin Hearing Your Machines Now
One of the best decisions you can make for your company is to switch from a reactive to a proactive maintenance strategy. It turns your maintenance team into strategic asset managers rather than a repair team.
Instead of waiting for failure, read the oil’s indicators and make more informed decisions based on data. Get in touch with Highveld Filters right now to find out more about putting in place an oil analysis program and beginning a CBM adventure.
Gain real-time access to your information through the innovative TruVu 360™ cloud-based online dashboard. The platform provides comprehensive visibility of all historical data and enables you to view interactive dashboards highlighting key focus areas by site, machine class, asset class, and flagged report factors.
TruVu 360™ Enterprise Fluid Intelligence simplifies and streamlines the oil analysis process so high-quality information and actionable intelligence lead to effective decision-making.
TruVu 360™ Enterprise Fluid Intelligence platform delivers real benefits that meet business goals and objectives:
Intelligence:
- Closed loop feedback improves diagnostic accuracy over time.
- Dashboard for management views of cost savings and program key performance indicators (KPIs).
Simplicity
- Intuitive interface with built-in intelligence.
- Simple flow minimises human error.
Quality
- Highest quality information from freshly collected samples.
- Simple process with fewer hand-offs ensures higher quality data.
Our Integrated Offering:
Tribological Excellence: Advanced oil analysis, wear particle monitoring, and condition-based lubrication management.
Predictive Maintenance: Data analytics, AI, and Machine Learning to predict equipment failures and reduce downtime.
Asset Health Management & Condition Intelligence: Extend equipment life and increase lubricant drain intervals.
Don’t wait for failure, read the signs in the oil and make smarter, data-driven decisions. To learn more about how to implement an oil analysis programme and start a CBM journey, contact Highveld Filters today.
