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Statistics have shown that 50 - 60% of all mechanical failures are lubricated related. The costs of these failures are spread between maintenance repairs and production delays. With proper lubrication application, electric arc furnace equipment reliability and service uptime increase dramatically. This paper discusses lubrication failure costs, and how a good reliability program can alleviate downtime. Several case studies are presented demonstrating how to develop the reliability engineering concept and the results of incorporating proper lubrication in any reliability program. The studies have shown that production delay costs far outstrip maintenance costs. Before developing a maintenance centered reliability program (MCRP), current overall equipment effectiveness must be ascertained. Then goals and expectations can be set. The decision must be made to develop an in-house program or purchase one from an outside source. Either way, in-house personnel will need to be trained and qualified outside experts recruited. There are four key elements in developing a MCRP: 1) Safety and Environmental Impact, 2) Reliability Engineering Program, 3) Preventive Maintenance/Predictive Maintenance Strategy, 4) Work Management. A team effort is an effective way to improve equipment and system reliability. Keep the teams small (no more than 4-5 on any team), have as many teams as needed, but don't get over stretched. Case Studies show the huge returns that maintenance reliability can have on a plant. The leaders in the steel industry will be those that have developed effective reliability programs and exercise options that are not 'That's the way we've always done it!'