CMRT Maintenance Practices Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: 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?
- The cost of the new bearing
- The date of the last maintenance activity
- A unique asset identifier for the conveyor (Correct answer)
- The name of the technician who completed the previous job
Correct 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.
Question 2: 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?
- Ensure the grease gun is calibrated to the correct pressure.
- Verify the new grease is the correct type specified by the OEM.
- Wipe the grease fitting and the grease gun nozzle clean. (Correct answer)
- Check the bearing's temperature with an infrared thermometer.
Correct 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.
Question 3: Which of the following maintenance strategies is triggered by real-time equipment condition data rather than a fixed schedule?
- Reactive Maintenance
- Preventive Maintenance
- Predictive Maintenance (PdM) (Correct answer)
- Corrective Maintenance
Correct 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.
Question 4: 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?
- Verifying the grinder's warranty is still valid.
- Checking that the guard is in place and secure. (Correct answer)
- Ensuring the grinder has been recently calibrated.
- Measuring the voltage at the electrical outlet.
Correct 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.
Question 5: 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?
- Shut down the pump immediately and begin disassembly.
- Clean up the spill, place a container to catch the leak, and write a work order for the repair. (Correct answer)
- Increase the preventive maintenance frequency for all gearboxes in the area.
- Ignore the leak as the pump is non-critical and still operational.
Correct 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.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes the primary purpose of maintaining high standards of housekeeping in a maintenance shop and around equipment?
- To impress auditors and management during facility tours.
- To reduce the time spent looking for misplaced tools.
- To ensure compliance with the equipment manufacturer's warranty.
- To enhance safety by preventing slips, trips, and fires, and to facilitate the identification of new issues like leaks. (Correct answer)
Correct 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.
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?