Do you know the current gaps in your lubrication program? If not use this maturity matrix to identify the gaps based on known best practices. This is one great tool anyone can use who are looking to optimize their lubrication program. Review the matrix with your maintenance staff and ask for their comments.(comments by a maintenance staff will give you an indication of their lubrication knowledge)

1. Elements
LEVEL 1
NOT ENGAGED
LEVEL 2
EXPERIMENTING
LEVEL 3
ENLIGHTENED
LEVEL 4
GOOD PRACTICE
LEVEL 5
BEST PRACTICE
Hierarchy
No functional hierarchy exists.
Plant uses the asset list from
accounting. No understanding
of the difference between asset
and equipment.
Plant utilizes a smart CMMS
identification number for
hierarchy purposes. Machines,
components, and parts exist on
the same indenture levels.
Plant has a hierarchy down
to the system level. Some
machines exist on their own
indenture level. No real
consistency. List not accurate.
Plant has a hierarchy down to the
machine level. Some components
exist on their own indenture level.
List is fairly consistent and at least
70% accurate.
Hierarchy exists down to the
component and/or lube point
level. List is very consistent across
different areas and +95% accurate.
Data is validated on a frequent and
regular interval.
Asset Catalog No Component Attribute Library.
Some component attributes
recorded for a few pieces of
critical equipment.
Component attribute data contains
basic lubrication information only.
Information necessary for basic
lubrication design (component
mfg/model, size, speed, temp,
environmental considerations, etc).
Comprehensive library exists,
inclusive of all lubrication-related
attributes. Level 3 + lube types,
equipment modifications for lube
tasks, breathers, filtration, etc.
Suitable for complete equipment
BOM. Records can only be changed
by Planner. Data validated on an
as-needed basis.
Level 4 considerations + All
component attributes databased.
Records are under document
control. Data validated on
regular and frequent intervals.
Current Lubrication
Program Design
No formal program.
Basic program design; looks at
manufacturer recommendations
and basic component attributes.
Formally designed program that
looks at specific operating and
environmental characteristics
to determine required tasks,
intervals, and volumes.
Formally designed program
inclusive of Level 3 with tasks
grouped into lubrication routes
by area, task, and interval.
Formally designed program inclusive
of Levels 3 and 4, with lubrication
routes and visual inspection
data collection. Rounds logging
application in place with integrated
task management and reporting
capabilities.
Monitoring, Tracking,
and Reporting
No accounting for lubrication.
Lubrication included in generic
maintenance reporting with
generic data and targets.
Some specific reporting for
lubrication with specific data
sources and targets.
Comprehensive systems set
targets, monitor consumption,
identify defects, quantify
savings, and provide budget
tracking.
Level 4 capabilities + Integrated
platform for monitoring and
reporting capabilities.
Internal Marketing
No promotion of lubrication
program.
Informal contacts used to
promote lubrication program and
lubrication-related gains.
Formal methods (email campaigns)
to promote lubrication awareness to
lubrication and maintenance staff.
Program in place for staff
awareness and regular publicity
campaign.
Marketing the value of
lubrication program and the
performance of lubrication
management both within and
outside the organization.
Investment
No investment in developing
lubrication program.
Only low-cost measures or
short-term payback criteria
considered.
Investment decisions based on
long-term paybacks for increased
reliability; methodical implementation
focused on criticality.
Monies dedicated for the
modification of existing facility
assets for the maintenance of in use
lubricants and proper storage of new
lubricants.
New asset investments required to
be designed/equipped for the proper
maintenance and handling of new
and used lubricants.
Lubrication Program
Management
Responsibilities
No evidence of assignment of
lubrication tasks and duties.
Unwritten set of lubrication
responsibility assignments.
Lubrication function in place
and managed at lower levels
of organization to include oil
analysis, regrease, and visual
inspection.
List of lubrication responsibilities
and their assignment exists for
key lubrication staff.
Detailed lubrication RASCIs
exist and are comprehensive
and regularly reviewed.
Dedicated staff for Lubrication
Program.
Lubrication Training and
Awareness
No lubrication training provided.
Ad hoc training provided through
lubricant or other service
providers; product and process
specific.
Lubrication Awareness Training
available to management
and involved staff; focus on
lubrication fundamentals.
Fundamental lubrication and
oil analysis training provided
to those involved in lubrication
program.
Lubrication technicians have
received training and are certified
as MLT and/or MLA; Lubrication
Awareness Training is available to
all personnel involved in operations.
Reporting Procedures No reporting.
Reports only issued if prompted
by a business need, or when
problem exists.
Occasional reporting, verbal or
hard copy, informal with timeline
variability.
Routine reporting within CMMS
on a structured timeline.
Routine reporting takes into account
equipment criticality, failure modes
and symptoms, primary and
secondary detection techniques. All
equipment considered. Integrated
“Asset Health” reporting system in
place inclusive of all applied CBM
technologies as well as lubrication
tasks.
Existing Plant and
Equipment Modification
Equipment modifications
to minimize downtime for
lubrication servicing has not
been considered.
Some equipment may have
manufacturer-installed components
such as visual level gauges or
sample valves, but additional
modifications are not considered.
Critical equipment components
are modified with hardware
to ease the burden of task
completion (desiccant breathers,
level gauges, grease lines).
Critical equipment components
are modified to include desiccant
breathers, level gauges, sample
valves, quick connects, grease
lines, etc.
Lubricated components are
modified based on criticality,
sump size, operating conditions.
Status of Existing Plant
and Equipment
Equipment is not maintained;
leaks are observed and not
repaired; strictly Run-to-Failure
mentality.
Equipment is given basic care
to keep it running until failure or
plant shutdown.
Basic preventive maintenance
on calendar basis and repair as
needed.
Equipment is well maintained
and functional. Preventive and
condition based maintenance
is performed. Repairs are
performed as needed.
Level 4 + Equipment modifications
have been made to support
associated lubrication tasks.
Equipment is clean and labeled /
lube positions identified.
Plant and Equipment
Replacement
No consideration for ease of
lubrication in selection process.
Equipment is replaced with
similar components; sealed
bearings may be considered.
Equipment is replaced with
similarly designed components;
aftermarket modifications are
made.
Equipment is selected to be the
most appropriate to the application
and is modified with appropriate
lubrication hardware prior to being
installed. Equipment utilizes
lubricants that are already included
in the lubrication program with
minimal exceptions.
Equipment is selected to be the
most appropriate to the application
with appropriate lubrication
hardware installed by manufacturer.
Equipment utilizes lubricants that are
already included in the lubrication
program.
Lubrication /
Maintenance Procedures
No regular inspections or
lubrication maintenance carried
out.
Procedures cover parts of
plant and/or basic information
available (machine and lubricant
type).
Procedures cover partial/critical
plant with routine task details
(machine, lubrication, points,
lubricant grade(s), frequency,
amount, etc.).
Procedures cover all lubricated
components with routine
task details. Remedial action
undertaken for most defects
identified.
Procedures cover all lubricated
components with routine task
details. Component condition
information is documented and
remedial action undertaken for all
defects identified.
Continued on back...
RCLProgramElementsRCLProgramElementsTechnicalElementsTechnicalElements
Ways to Measure Your
Reliability Centered Lubrication (RCL)
Maturity Matrix
LEVEL 1
NOT ENGAGED
LEVEL 1
NOT ENGAGED
LEVEL 2
EXPERIMENTING
LEVEL 2
EXPERIMENTING
LEVEL 4
GOOD PRACTICE
LEVEL 4
GOOD PRACTICE
LEVEL 5
BEST PRACTICE
LEVEL 5
BEST PRACTICE
Helping companies build wealth and competitive advantage through world-class reliability
across a global manufacturing network.
4200 Faber Place Drive • Charleston, SC 29405 • www.alliedreliability.com

2. Elements
LEVEL 1
NOT ENGAGED
LEVEL 2
EXPERIMENTING
LEVEL 3
ENLIGHTENED
LEVEL 4
GOOD PRACTICE
LEVEL 5
BEST PRACTICE
Operational Knowledge
for Task Completion
No consideration is given to
completing lubrication-related
tasks while equipment is
operating.
Lubrication-related tasks are
completed while equipment is
operating for assets that are
accessible during operation.
Inaccessible assets are
maintained while equipment is
down.
Critical equipment is modified
so lubrication tasks can be
completed while component is
running.
Equipment directly involved
with the production process is
modified so lubrication tasks can
be completed while component
is running.
When appropriate, all
lubrication-related tasks are
completed while equipment
is running. Appropriate
modifications are made to
components to facilitate this.
Program Documentation None available.
Available standards and
documentation are generic or
poorly written. Difficult to apply
as written.
Some specific documents
written; relevant documents are
referenced on all tasks.
Documents are comprehensive
and cover most common
tasks; relevant documents are
referenced on all tasks.
Documents are comprehensive
and cover all common tasks and
scenarios; relevant documents
are provided with all tasks.
Lubrication Storage
No dedicated lubrication storage
in place.
Dedicated lubrication storage
present. May not be centralized.
Inadequately sized or located.
Poorly ventilated or lit. Dirty,
badly organized, or untidy.
Centralized storage available.
Adequately sized and located.
Poorly ventilated or lit. Dirty,
badly organized, or untidy.
Level 3 + Well organized,
clean, and tidy. Lubricants
consolidated and well labeled.
Level 4 + Dedicated lubrication
storage room, dedicated bulk
storage with filtration, desiccant
breather, pressurized, climate
control, bulk lubrication storage
includes filtration with dedicated
dispensing.
Lubrication Dispensing No filtration or testing of new oil.
Filtration included at some
point in the handling/dispensing
process. Not tested or
not meeting cleanliness
requirements.
Filtered at a single delivery
point. Meets target cleanliness
prior to dispensing. Proper
transportation methods or
containers not considered.
Filtered at the delivery point.
Meets target cleanliness
prior to dispensing. Proper
transportation methods and
containers utilized.
Level 4 + Established
procedures developed and
adhered to for proper lubrication
handling practices.
Lubrication Selection /
Type / Application
No formal documentation of
required lubricants.
Current lubricants are based on
a combination of manufacturer
recommendations, lubricants
that have always been used,
and the supplier’s flavor of the
month.
Supplier-developed lubricant
list based on general needs
throughout the plant, some
consolidation in order to fit need
to available product.
Available lubricants are based
on an engineered approach that
takes into account operating
and environmental variables for
critical equipment only.
Available lubricants are based
on an engineered approach that
takes into account operating
and environmental variables for
all equipment and the available
number optimized to meet
specific needs.
Oil Analysis Program Oil analysis currently not used.
No consistent analysis
performed, only utilized when
there is a problem.
Routine testing of critical
compartments only (no regards
for compartment size).
Plant-wide routine testing. Some
tailoring of frequency and test
slate to meet equipment needs.
Analysis strategy takes into account
equipment criticality, failure modes
and symptoms, primary and
secondary detection techniques,
and test effectiveness. All equipment
considered. Integrated Asset Health
program management and reporting
capabilities.
Lubrication Program
Tracking
No identifiable lubrication aspect
tracked.
Lubrication tasks tracked on
paper, includes date completed
and next due date.
Lubrication tasks tracked within
spreadsheet, includes date
completed, new due date, and
past due alert.
Lubrication tasks tracked
within scheduling or work order
system, follow-up tasks are
scheduled as required.
Lubrication tasks tracked within
integrated condition monitoring
reporting system, scheduling,
follow-up work etc. is tracked, as
well as Asset Health and component
condition assessed based on
applied lubrication tasks and
physical inspections.
Data Sources
No measurements taken and no
records kept.
Data is available in paper format
for completed tasks/inspections/
oil analysis.
Oil analysis results for critical
components are tracked in
standalone system; completed
task/inspection information
available in paper format or
other database.
Oil analysis results are migrated
into CMMS system; completed
task/inspection information
is available in paper format
or other database (possibly
migrated into CMMS).
Visual inspection data, including
top off volumes, and quantified
component conditions are collected
during inspection tasks and stored
in condition monitoring system, Oil
analysis results are also included in
the CBM database.
Lubricant Usage
Tracking
No lubricant usage analysis
prepared.
Lubricant usage is tracked as
a running total for all lubricants
with limited identification of
individual products.
Lubricant usage analysis by type
is monitored based on amount
added/subtracted from inventory.
Lubricant usage is monitored
with respect to lubricant type
and component type, amount
purchased is compared
to running total of amount
dispensed by component type.
Lubricant usage monitored with
respect to lubricant type and
component, amount of lubricant
purchased is compared to running
total of amount dispensed by
specific component. Dispensed
amounts are also compared to total
waste oil disposed of.
Report Outputs
No management reports
prepared.
Reports prepared and provided
to managers incorporating both
technical and financial data
when prompted by business
need or when problem exists.
Reports prepared and provided
to managers incorporating both
technical and financial data
together with deviations from
budget and comparisons with
previous period.
Reports prepared and provided
to managers in a concise form,
allowing both technical and
financial data to be effectively
utilized, with deviations from
budget and comparisons with
previous period.
Reports prepared and provided
to managers in a concise form,
allowing both technical and financial
data to be effectively utilized. Data
normalized for ease of comparison.
Impact of any uncertainties defined.
KPIs No lubrication KPIs.
Lubrication included in generic
maintenance KPIs.
Basic lubrication KPIs (Work
Management, QA/QC).
Suite of KPIs covering all
facets of lubrication that are
regularly reviewed and updated
(Work Management, Plant
Performance, QA/QC, Storage
and Handling, Health, Safety
and Environment).
Suite of KPIs covering all facets
of lubrication that are regularly
reviewed and updated (Work
Management, Plant Performance,
QA/QC, Storage and Handling,
Health, Safety and Environment).
KPIs communicated and understood
by all stakeholders.
Results/ScorecardElementsResults/ScorecardElements
LEVEL 1
NOT ENGAGED
LEVEL 1
NOT ENGAGED
LEVEL 2
EXPERIMENTING
LEVEL 2
EXPERIMENTING
LEVEL 4
GOOD PRACTICE
LEVEL 4
GOOD PRACTICE
LEVEL 5
BEST PRACTICE
LEVEL 5
BEST PRACTICE
Ways to Measure Your
Reliability Centered Lubrication (RCL)
Maturity Matrix
Helping companies build wealth and competitive advantage through world-class reliability
across a global manufacturing network.
4200 Faber Place Drive • Charleston, SC 29405 • www.alliedreliability.com
TechnicalElementsTechnicalElements