The Value of Implementing Lubrication Best Practices

Over the past 18 months, Compass Minerals' division in Ogden, Utah, has put a lot of time and money into creating a best-practice lube storage and dispensing building as well as in taking oil samples and attaching color-coded lube identification tags to each piece of equipment. The company is now seeing great results from its efforts and has even noticed a change in its employees.

Compass Minerals began its journey by formulating a plan and obtaining management buy-in. Starting from the ground up, the approach involved training lube technicians, developing lube routes, incorporating air breathers, purchasing new lubricant/oil handling containers, and constructing a new lubrication building with storage racks and a filtration system.

After the new lubrication building was completed, an open house was held and daily training was provided for two weeks. This was intended not only to celebrate the opening of the new lube room but also to allow all maintenance and operations personnel to see and learn about the new building, including how and where to get oil/grease and why oil cleanliness is so important. Noria's "Lubrication Basics for Machinery Operators" video was shown as part of the training.

In 2015, Compass Minerals plans to have new color-coded grease fitting protector covers and oil sample ports installed on all equipment. The company is committed to maintaining a world-class lubrication system and has already started seeing cost savings/payback, which is expected to continue for years to come. The employees are excited to see what the future holds.