10 steps to Lubrication Reliability

Your roadmap to World Class Maintenance

Explore the 10 steps to Lubrication Reliability

Why Lubrication Reliability (LR) matters

Poor lubrication is one of the most common, and preventable, causes of equipment failure. Still, in many industrial environments, it’s treated as a routine task rather than a key reliability process. The result? More breakdowns, higher maintenance costs, and shorter asset life.

But when we talk about lubrication, we’re really talking about bearings, the heart of rotating equipment. If lubrication isn’t right, bearings are the first to suffer.

Bearing

That’s why Lubrication Reliability (LR) matters. It’s not about greasing parts, it’s about building a consistent, controlled system that protects your critical components and supports long-term performance.

🛈 Ever wonder how lubrication failures start quietly, and how to stop them before they do damage?

Discover the hidden phase of bearing failure and how the 6 Lubrication Rights can help prevent it.

Explore the 6 Lubrication Rights & Silent phase of bearings

Learn how failures start—and how to prevent them with a reliable approach.

What’s going wrong in most plants?

❌ No clear ownership of lubrication
❌ Different practices per shift
❌ Poor documentation
❌ Reactive fixes instead of planned actions

In many plants, lubrication is left to chance. And that leads to avoidable wear, unexpected failures, and higher costs.

You need more than good products

Even the best lubricant won’t help if it’s used inconsistently, incorrectly, or too late. Real reliability comes from a structured, step-by-step strategy that links lubrication to your broader maintenance goals.

The 10-Step LR Strategy

We’ve developed a practical 10-step Lubrication Reliability approach to help you shift from reactive practices to a fully reliable system. Each step builds on the previous one, guiding you from first assessment to full optimisation.

► Scroll down to explore the 10 steps to Lubrication Reliability.

Discover the 10 steps to Lubrication Reliability

Click an image to see a quick summary of each step in the Lubrication Reliability concept. Use the orange arrow to explore the step in more detail (⇩), or the double arrow (>>) to move on to the next step.

1. Assess & Benchmark

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1. Assess & Benchmark

Start with clarity

Know where your current lubrication program stands and what needs improvement.

► Identify inefficiencies and contamination risks.

► Compare against best-in-class industry standards.

2. Organise & Plan

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2. Organise & Plan

Systemised plan means fewer failures.

Good lubrication doesn’t happen by chance. Put structure behind it.

► Build and schedule preventive tasks.

► Track lubricant use and maintenance history.

3. Identification & Inspection

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3. Identification & Inspection

Clarity prevents costly mistakes.

Label every lubrication point and product to avoid cross-contamination.

► Use colour-coding and clear signage.

► Regular inspections detect problems early.

4. Cleanliness Control

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4. Cleanliness Control

Contaminants are equipment killers.

Keep lubricants clean — from storage to application.

► Filter oils before and during use.

► Use sealed containers and clean transfer systems.

5. Dispense with Precision

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5. Dispense with Precision

Control matters at every drop.

Dispense lubricants safely, accurately, and without mess.

► Use dedicated, clean equipment.

► Eliminate spills and waste.

6. Grease Effectivity

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6. Grease Effectivity

The right grease, the right amount, every time.

Proper greasing prevents premature wear.

► Follow correct frequency and volume.

► Use tools that deliver with precision.

7. Contamination Control

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7. Contamination Control

A clean system is a reliable system.

Prevent dirt, water, and particles from entering lubricants.

► Install breathers, seals, and filtration units.

► Keep storage areas organised and dust-free.

8.Condition Monitoring

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8.Condition Monitoring

Lubricants tell a story -listen to it.

Regular testing reveals wear, contamination, and oil health.

► Use oil analysis to guide change intervals.

► Detect problems before they cause breakdowns.

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9.Environmental Control

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9. Environmental Control

A clean workspace supports clean lubrication.

Housekeeping is part of reliability.

► Implement spill control and absorbents.

► Support 5S and environmental compliance.

10.Knowledge Management

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10.Knowledge Management

People make it work.

Even the best tools need skilled hands.

► Train teams on modern lubrication practices.

► Promote ownership and continuous improvement.

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