Publisher's Note

The past year has been very challenging for industry and the economy of India as a whole. As per estimates, India’s economy will grow at less than 5% in the current year. The industrial growth, during this period would be the slowest in many years and we do hope that the countries planners would look at the basic flaws in the system and take corrective actions to set things in order.

A recent case study performed by a large multinational organization, has highlighted the benefits of using this lean period of business for performing various maintenance related activities as well as going ahead with implementing process changes that would otherwise be difficult to implement and test when your facility is at full production.

Lubrication plays an important role in keeping the wheels of production moving. As a thumb rule, the cost of lubricants in any establishment is typically 1-3% of the maintenance budget, however 60% of equipment failures are lubrication related. The cover story in this issue talks about 5 common lubrication problems and how to fix them. Lubrication is not a core competency but developing a world class lubrication programs with a proven, engineered approach is essential to delivering success rate at a plant. A good lubrication program leads to modifying people, modifying machines, modifying lubrication procedures, methods and frequency, modifying PMs and inspections and deploying vigilant lubrication monitoring system. All the above factors then lead to lubrication excellence and a knowledgeable work force that have an intellectual approach to resolving today’s lubrication problems.

Readers will also find an interesting article by Jim Fitch who talks about tribology as a behavioral science. It has become increasingly clear that applied tribology is more about training and behavioral science than about engineering and material science and most companies seem to have a maintenance culture that is in urgent need of an intervention strategy. The article discusses how no amount of expertise in lubrication and machine reliability will overcome the destructive aftermath of bad maintenance culture. The previous issue cover story on Managing Industrial Oils-Life Extension & Recycling generated a lot of interest among the readers. The government’s policy on categorizing used oils as hazardous and the procedure and processes put in place by the Pollution Control Board have hugely affected the way industry will look at the options of renewal & disposal of used oils in the days to come.

Noria Corporation, USA, our associates, are organizing their annual “Reliable Plant” Conference at San Antonia, Texas, USA from 22-24th April 2014. You are requested to join this international conference which will surely be beneficial. As usual, we welcome our readers’ suggestions and comments which enable us to provide you with cutting edge articles on lubrication and lubrication enable reliability to our readers. So please keep these suggestions/ views coming to help us service you better. Your feedbacks are very important to us.

We would also like to take this opportunity to wish our readers and advertisers a very Happy Holi.

Warm Regards,

Udey Dhir