Haris: Hello Martin, glad to see you again, you know … this is our 13th coffee/ice cream session!
Martin: Really?? That’s rather alarming! Cause if we understand root cause and health, and cholesterol, and sugar … actually I’ve enjoyed them than 😊
Haris: Since you mentioned alarms, that’s great suggestion, thank you, let’s talk about alarms 😊
Martin: You are right, setting alarms is a good topic. How would you decide on what’s good and what’s bad when it comes to setting alarms? I mean, where do you position those alarms?
Haris: Same as everything else, based on data! This is my universal answer to anything.
Martin: There is a lot of talk about baseline numbers, for example… 8 dB requires lubrication, 12 dB might be minor damage and so on … and in fact, as I jokingly say, when you get to, sort of, above 32 dB you probably shouldn’t be listening at your headphones, you should be running as fast as possible, cause the bearing is about to fail.
Haris: Yes, you shouldn’t be there. Of course, there are some guidelines and recommendations, but they should be taken exactly as the name says …. not as hard facts, because they are simply not, those are just recommendations.
Martin: Ok, so what are facts than?
Haris: The facts are in your data. First, you start with what is often called a baseline. Because if it is +8, +16, +24 over the baseline. So, that is one misconception, what is a baseline? First of all, it’s not a number, as some people like to show it, it simply cannot be a number. Chance that we will arrive at the same value at the end of each grease replenishment process is close to zero. It can happen, by chance … but not to be expected. So called base line is more like a base area … not a number. Once it is understood as an area, alarms look much more logical.
So, there is no chance we will end up with same number, because it is simply wrong to expect it and will confuse users, and it sets up completely wrong expectations. On top of that… this base area can… and will change under certain conditions. You cannot expect bearing to have same base “line” through entire operating life, it simply is not realistic. However, it is really nice marketing story.
Martin: Sure, I mean, to take your analogy, then it’s bit like a fingerprint – everything is unique, and it starts as identifier. Yes, makes a lot of sense, base area, where do we go from there?
Haris: Next question is Alarm level – how much? That is usual question and again a source of lot of confusion. It can be +8, +16, +24 …. or +6, +12, +18 … there are different recommendations out there. They might be helpful first time you replenish grease, and you want to start from somewhere, you want to build your program, but those numbers are not the rule. At least in my opinion. Because +4, +8, +12 can be as good,… or any other number. I’ll answer your question with a question: what is data telling us? Just like always. What is the difference between good and bad? What if that difference is +4 dBµ, and you are waiting for +8? That could be quite a problem. Blindly following someone, as you once said, is wrong. So, we shouldn’t be blindly following. Our own data is telling us difference between good and bad. And, of course, I want alarm on “bad”. If that is +3, then it will be +3.
Martin: Ok. So, Private alarms?
Haris: Yes, excellent word – private alarms. You can call it your own private alarms on your own private asset.
Martin: Yes, I mean, I guess, if we just come back to medical analogy, you know, my body weight through my hight – I am under-tall! As opposed to what I weigh. And that is why there is so much discussion about body mass index being not really meaningful because it gets raised to concerns where none actually exists, and vice versa. And it’s the same with setting alarms for cleanliness that actually … we want to achieve Reliability; how much you want to achieve of that Reliability – that really sets the alarm, how much Reliability do you actually want, rather then “the manufacturer says”, “the rule says”. It’s all about, we go where gut, and instinct doesn’t work.
Haris: I absolutely agree with that and that is a great analogy. Cleanliness is probably the best example, much better than one I gave. But how do we end up in medical condition comparisons every time?
Martin: Cause… too much ice cream, too much coffee… it seems that food grade grease would be a great refreshment in our diet.
Haris: Speaking of that… there should be some running around this week, right?
Martin: Yeap!
Haris: You’ll be back in a week for next session?
Martin: Absolutely, great!
Haris: Martin, see you next Monday.
Martin: See you!
