At the end of this module, you will be able to:
- Describe the purpose and benefits of an Operator Basic Care program
- List typical basic care tasks or activities
- Describe the importance of housekeeping
- Describe the importance of lubrication
- Describe the role of inspections in Operator Basic Care programs
- Identify and describe typical inspection tools
- Identify and describe typical operator adjustments and minor repairs
- Describe the importance of basic care documentation and reporting
The following key questions are answered in this module:
What is Operator Basic Care?
Operator Basic Care is an equipment reliability program that involves operators in the maintenance of their equipment.
What is the purpose of Operator Basic Care?
The goal of Operator Basic Care is to keep machines running as well as they did when they were new. Benefits include: Increased reliability, communication, knowledge, quality, safety, along with decreased operating and maintenance costs.
What are typical operator activities in a Basic Care program?
Operator responsibilities typically include housekeeping, lubrication, performing minor maintenance tasks, inspecting equipment for defects and documenting inspection results.
What are the 5 Rights of Lubrication?
A good lubrication program should ensure the Right type and quality of lubricant is applied in the Right amount, in the Right place, and at the Right time.
What are minor maintenance tasks that operators may be expected to perform?
Some examples of minor maintenance tasks are replacing normal wear items, unplugging drain lines, replacing some broken parts, adjusting seal water flows, performing changeovers, replacing filters, and tightening loose bolts.
Below is a transcript of the video sample provided for this module:
Common inspection items include operating hours of the machine, fluid levels such as oil or fuel, process variables such as temperatures, pressures, or flows, equipment conditions such as bearing temperatures, fasteners, guarding, etc., vibration readings, and ultrasonic levels. Operator basic care inspections should be measurable and repeatable, not subjective. No matter who does the inspection, the results should be the same. A good inspection includes detailed task instructions such as, "Ensure the gearbox oil level is in the middle third of the sight glass tube," versus, "Check gearbox."
Including pictures of the gauge on the inspection form and visual controls on the gauge itself, will ensure the inspection is objective.
Use the additional resources and links below to learn more about this topic: