Of the many available products for machinery maintenance applications at industrial sites, lubricants aren’t necessarily the most frequently mentioned. However, they arguably should be acknowledged more often, given the central role that effective lubrication plays in any good preventive maintenance strategy.
In today’s highly competitive industrial operations, preventive maintenance is a cornerstone. It is founded on the idea that instead of waiting for equipment to fail, maintenance teams should proactively intervene to help keep machinery going for longer.
The Critical Role of Lubrication in Preventive Maintenance
Moving mechanical components generate friction wherever their surfaces come into contact with each other. In the absence of proper lubrication, this friction generates heat, speeds up wear, and heightens the likelihood of mechanical failure.
If, on the other hand, a high standard of lubrication is incorporated into a preventive maintenance routine, this can help to:
- Reduce friction between moving parts
- Minimise wear on bearings, gears, and chains
- Guard against corrosion and oxidation
- Prevent component damage arising from contaminants such as dust and moisture
- Drive down operating temperatures
- Lower energy consumption by improving mechanical efficiency
- Extend the service life of machinery
- Decrease maintenance costs and unexpected downtime
In a climate that is seeing many manufacturers forced to contend with rising energy prices and intensifying pressure to improve operational efficiency, these benefits can help bring down the total cost of ownership of industrial assets.
Even if you already make extensive use of lubrication at your industrial premises, you might be largely accustomed to treating it as a reactive, “fix when it squeaks” task.
Incorporating lubrication into a preventive maintenance regime, on the other hand, is about turning it into a proactive and scheduled process.
By establishing a routine of regular lubricant application according to manufacturer-recommended intervals or usage-based schedules (operating hours, cycles, or load), you can go a long way to ensuring your equipment continues running at peak efficiency.
What Does Lubrication as Part of Preventive Maintenance Actually Look Like?
As we referenced above, lubricant manufacturers provide information on how often their products should be used. Heeding these recommendations is crucial.
However, a structured lubrication programme as part of a broader preventive maintenance strategy also typically encompasses the following elements:
- The identification of lubrication points on every asset
- The selection of the most suitable lubricant for the given application
- The monitoring of lubricant condition
- The removal of old or contaminated lubricant where appropriate
- The recording of maintenance activities for future planning
Today, it is customary for many maintenance teams to include lubrication tasks within computerised maintenance management systems (CMMS). The use of such software greatly helps ensure that no critical servicing intervals are missed.
Conclusion: Lubrication Belongs at The Centre of a Reliable Maintenance Strategy
Far from a “minor” task or afterthought, effective lubrication is a strategic investment that underpins the success of a complete preventive maintenance regime.
A well-formulated lubrication programme will reduce friction, heat, and wear at your industrial site, protecting assets in the process. So, you can expect to gain measurable returns through higher uptime, lower costs, and greater sustainability.
If, then, you are a key decision-maker for an industrial premises such as a maintenance manager, reliability engineer, or member of a facilities team, investing in the right lubricants and using them in the correct ways can be more than worthwhile in the long run.
