CLS Professional Standards & Competencies 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: How many professional development hours (PDHs) does STLE typically require for CLS recertification within a three-year cycle?
- 10 PDHs
- 25 PDHs (Correct answer)
- 50 PDHs
- 100 PDHs
Correct answer: 25 PDHs
STLE requires 25 PDHs per three-year recertification cycle, covering lubrication-related education and activities.
Question 2: When writing a lubrication specification for a new piece of equipment, which document should be consulted first?
- Competitor equipment manuals
- OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) manual (Correct answer)
- Peer's previous lubrication schedule
- Lubricant vendor's general catalog
Correct answer: OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) manual
The OEM manual provides the manufacturer's specific lubricant type, viscosity, quantity, and interval requirements for that equipment.
Question 3: A Lubrication Management System (LMS) is best described as:
- Software only, used to track oil purchases
- A documented, systematic approach to planning, executing, and improving all lubrication activities (Correct answer)
- A supplier's catalog management platform
- A filtration system controller
Correct answer: A documented, systematic approach to planning, executing, and improving all lubrication activities
An LMS encompasses the full cycle of lubrication program planning, task execution, monitoring, and continuous improvement.
Question 4: Which of the following best represents a proactive lubrication strategy?
- Changing lubricant only after equipment breakdown
- Replacing lubricant on a calendar schedule regardless of condition
- Using oil analysis to change lubricant based on condition (Correct answer)
- Lubricating only when operators report noise or vibration
Correct answer: Using oil analysis to change lubricant based on condition
Condition-based lubrication driven by oil analysis is proactive — it acts on actual data rather than arbitrary schedules or failures.
Question 5: When labeling lubrication storage containers and points of application, the primary goal is to:
- Make the facility look organized for audits
- Prevent cross-contamination by ensuring the right lubricant is used in the right place (Correct answer)
- Comply with color-coding preferences of the lubricant supplier
- Reduce the number of lubricant SKUs purchased
Correct answer: Prevent cross-contamination by ensuring the right lubricant is used in the right place
Proper labeling prevents mixing incompatible lubricants, which is one of the most common causes of equipment damage in lubrication programs.
Question 6: In a facilities environment, who is typically the best person to approve changes to lubrication specifications?
- The lubricant sales representative
- The qualified lubrication professional in consultation with engineering and OEM guidance (Correct answer)
- The facilities janitor if they handle lubricant storage
- The purchasing department to control costs
Correct answer: The qualified lubrication professional in consultation with engineering and OEM guidance
Specification changes require technical competence and should involve the lubrication professional, engineering review, and OEM guidelines.
Question 7: A 'contamination control program' is a professional competency area for CLS because contamination:
- Is the primary driver of lubricant purchase costs
- Is responsible for the majority of lubricant-related machinery failures (Correct answer)
- Only affects hydraulic systems and bearings
- Is addressed automatically by modern synthetic lubricants
Correct answer: Is responsible for the majority of lubricant-related machinery failures
Industry studies consistently show that particulate and moisture contamination cause the majority (often cited as 70–80%) of lubricant-related equipment failures.
CLS Professional Standards & Competencies 3
How many professional development hours (PDHs) does STLE typically require for CLS recertification within a three-year cycle?