Maintenance Practices Flashcards

A maintenance technician receives a work order to replace a bearing on a critical conveyor belt. Which of the following is the MOST crucial piece of information that must be included on the work order before starting the job?

Answer: A unique asset identifier for the conveyor

A unique asset identifier (e.g., equipment number) is essential to ensure the technician performs work on the correct piece of equipment. This prevents potentially catastrophic errors. While other information is useful for planning and history, verifying the correct asset is a primary step for safety and accuracy.

A technician is tasked with lubricating a series of pillow block bearings. To best prevent lubricant contamination, what is the first action the technician should take before applying new grease?

Answer: Wipe the grease fitting and the grease gun nozzle clean.

The most common source of lubricant contamination during application is dirt and debris. Wiping the grease fitting (zerk) and the tip of the grease gun nozzle clean before making a connection is a critical step to prevent introducing contaminants into the bearing.

Which of the following maintenance strategies is triggered by real-time equipment condition data rather than a fixed schedule?

Answer: Predictive Maintenance (PdM)

Predictive Maintenance (PdM) uses condition-monitoring tools and techniques (like vibration analysis, oil analysis, or infrared thermography) to collect real-time data and predict when a failure will occur. Maintenance is then scheduled only when it is needed, based on the asset's actual condition.

Before using a portable electric grinder for a cutting task, a maintenance technician performs a pre-use inspection. Which of the following is a required step in this inspection?

Answer: Checking that the guard is in place and secure.

A fundamental safety and maintenance practice is to perform a pre-use inspection on all tools and equipment. For a grinder, ensuring the safety guard is properly positioned and secure is a critical step to protect the user from sparks and potential wheel failure.

During a routine plant tour, a technician notices a small, steady oil leak from the gearbox of a non-critical pump, creating a puddle on the floor. The pump is still operating within normal parameters. What is the appropriate immediate action?

Answer: Clean up the spill, place a container to catch the leak, and write a work order for the repair.

The immediate priority is to address the safety hazard (the slip risk from the puddle) and contain the leak. The next step is to formally document the issue by creating a work order so the repair can be properly planned and scheduled. Shutting down a non-critical, operational pump without a plan would be inefficient.

Which of the following best describes the primary purpose of maintaining high standards of housekeeping in a maintenance shop and around equipment?

Answer: To enhance safety by preventing slips, trips, and fires, and to facilitate the identification of new issues like leaks.

While good housekeeping does help with efficiency and makes a good impression, its primary purpose is safety and proactive maintenance. A clean, orderly environment reduces hazards like slips, trips, and fires. It also makes it easier to spot new defects such as leaks, cracks, or loose fasteners that might otherwise be hidden.