I remember my first day at a new job in 1981. This is the job that launched me into a 32-year career in lubrication. My first assignment was to conduct a telephone survey of industry professionals on various topics related to oil analysis and contamination control. I quickly learned that the industry was suffering from stagnant practices and lethargic attitudes. It was not too long thereafter when I began to have second thoughts about the wisdom of pursuing lubrication as a career path. Perhaps some of you have had similar feelings.
It took a while, but I eventually came to realize that what seemed like a dismal state in an old and generally unexciting field was actually a huge opportunity in disguise. It reminds me of the story of the two shoe salesmen. They were both sent by their factory to Africa to see if there was a market for their product. The first salesman quickly reported back: “This is a terrible business opportunity. No one wears shoes.” The second salesman reported back: “This is a fantastic business opportunity. No one wears shoes.” At first I saw the lubrication field like the first salesman. I soon came to realize the enormous potential that it actually represented.
The lubricant Optimum Reference State (ORS) is a critical concept in the journey to world-class lubrication and enhanced machine reliability. In short, it is the prescribed state of machine configuration, operating conditions and maintenance activities required to achieve and sustain specific reliability objectives. Lubrication excellence is achieved when the current state of lubrication approaches that of the Optimum Reference State.
There are many different critical attributes of the ORS. These attributes relate to people preparedness, machine preparedness, precision lubricants, precision lubrication and oil analysis. Achieving the ORS almost always involves change or modifications. Each attribute must be:
Now decades later it is gratifying to see the considerable progress that has been made in the world of lubrication. Of course, much work still remains. It’s this unfinished business that offers untapped opportunity for both users and vendors alike. Many have seen this opportunity and are moving in to capitalize, but there is still plenty more low-hanging fruit for those who have the vision and are willing to take on the challenge. As they say, “opportunity knocks.”
Now, 32 years later, I’ve compiled a list of “lessons learned” related to my experience in lubrication and oil analysis. Lurking within these lessons are many of the opportunities to which I am referring. While these themes may be viewed as old news and certainly not profound, they are fundamental concepts that are largely underdeveloped and, in my opinion, need to be understood as the foundation of any transformational strategy by users.
Among these lessons learned include:
Why are plants so slow in adopting and deploying optimum lubrication practices? This question has befuddled industry professionals for years. The basic attributes of the Optimum Reference State (ORS) are widely known and are certainly deployable. The benefits are also well-documented by countless case studies, and the risks and costs are relatively low. So why hasn’t the ORS reached a usage tipping point?
I think a big part of the answer might lie in the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), which was first introduced by Fred Davis. This widely referenced theory states that users come to accept and use a new technology according to a number of factors. These factors influence the decision of how and when it will be used, specifically:
Perceived usefulness – This is defined as “the degree to which a person believes that using a particular technology would enhance his or her job performance.” For instance, how do better contamination control practices influence the jobs of maintenance managers and their workers?
Perceived ease of use – Davis defined this as “the degree to which a person believes that using a particular technology would be free from effort.” In lubrication, maintaining the status quo is easy, while implementing modernized lubrication practices can be viewed as difficult, expensive and disruptive (during the deployment period).
The basic elements of the TAM are shown in Figure 1. This has many parallels to the challenges facing the lubrication industry. The very fact that adoption of optimum lubrication practices has been so delinquent makes the case that one or two of these elements have strained progress.
Figure 1. This relational diagram illustrates the elements of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM).
Fundamentally, there is a need for users to believe that optimized lubrication: 1) is considerably different from the current state of lubrication in many critical areas, 2) will bring real value to users’ organizations and to maintenance workers individually (financially and career development), 3) can be deployed with manageable risk and cost, and 4) is sustainable.
An even more common model is the Technology Adoption Cycle. This model separates users (customers) into groups based on their propensity to try new technology. These groups are listed and summarized according to several unique characteristics, such as:
These groups form an adoption timeline as shown in Figure 3. In his book Crossing the Chasm, Geoffrey Moore makes a modification to the graph by adding what he calls “the chasm.” He states that progress along the timeline critically depends on crossing this chasm. The chasm is the point at which most new technologies fail to become mainstream in the market. Companies who introduce these new technologies can flounder due to their failure to reach the critical mass that enables the chasm to eventually be crossed.
Figure 2. This table shows critical lubrication Optimum Reference State (ORS) attributes and responsibility in controlling these attributes. Note that retroactive responsibility relates to machine modifications after installation at the user’s site.
In the world of lubrication, the changes needed by users to reach the Optimum Reference State could be viewed as the same in principle as a new, evolving technology. Many of the elements or attributes that make up the ORS are in fact technologies, while others are methods. These ORS technologies include advanced lubricant formulations, oil analysis instruments, lubrication devices, inspection tools and others. Instead of one single technology, like a smartphone, the ORS represents a collection of methods and technologies. To the user, this can be perceived as overwhelmingly difficult and hard to figure out. In other words, there is a perception of deployment risk and a potential failure to “cross the chasm.”
The state of machine and plant reliability should not be maximized but instead optimized. In lubrication, and maintenance in general, the goal is precision, i.e., the precise lubricant, the precise amount of lubricant, the precise inspection method, the precise relubrication frequencies, etc. The Optimum Reliable Plant (ORP) is one that approaches the ORS in all areas that enable reliability, with lubrication being one of the most critical.
Figure 3. The Technology Adoption Cycle was modified by Geoffrey Moore to include “the chasm,” where most new technologies fail to become mainstream in the market.
Many of us, including Noria, are stakeholders in the lubrication industry, while others are users or vendors of products and services. Getting over the chasm in the adoption cycle is in everyone’s interest. There is no secret formula, just a lot of critically important work that must be done. Procrastination is perhaps the greatest risk. Some specialized skills and tools are needed. It’s best to find experienced professionals with expertise in the critical attributes of the Optimum Reference State. Sadly, old-timers may lead you in the wrong direction unless their skills have been refreshed from recent training.
Strongly consider outsourcing as an option to avoid the need to hire or develop the internal resources required to cross the chasm. This could also avert the risk of losing focus from other routine and operational priorities. Service providers, such as Noria, can supply the needed expertise to facilitate (or turnkey) the transformation to the Optimum Reliable Plant. Among the services available include training, machine modification, procedure development, oil analysis program development, lubricant consolidation, lube room modernization and many others.
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Jim Fitch, a founder and CEO of Noria Corporation, has a wealth of experience in lubrication, oil analysis, and machinery failure investigations. He has advise…