Is proper torquing a part of your standard work?
Read enough OEM recommended procedures and you will notice that a common thread is proper torque values for fasteners. Many standard work (and standard operating) procedures in industrial facilities list recommended or required torque values for jobs like gasket replacements, motor alignments, bearing installations and gearbox rebuilds, yet we often see technicians performing these functions without torque wrenches on the jobsite. Availability and management reinforcement both play a major role here. Both need to be addressed.
Availability is the first to attack since you can’t very well require a technician to use a torque wrench if none are available. If you list torque values on your procedures but don’t have torque wrenches available, you lose credibility with your technicians. The impression is that the procedures are just paper and don’t have to be taken seriously. This can be very bad long range because you use your procedures to capture and promote good practices. If they are not read or followed, you lose the advantages of standard work and retained experience.
Easily accessible torque wrenches must be provided to get maximum value from your procedures. If you have good luck with shop tools returning home, a couple of each range should be stored where everyone can get to them. If they tend to grow feet, issuing a couple of wrenches to selected technicians may be the answer. Probably a combination is the best of both worlds.
The day-to-day activities like flange tightening can be handled by cheaper standard-range wrenches issued to technicians, while specialty jobs would list and require the use of more expensive calibrated wrenches. These should be tested periodically by the manufacturer to insure proper torque on equipment with specific torque values required by OEM procedures.
Management reinforcement is the second part of the equation. Without management encouraging and requiring the use of torque wrenches, human nature says that it probably won’t happen. Most technicians take pride in their work and want to do the best job possible, so a little encouragement is probably all that they need. That encouragement is making the proper tool available, listing the recommended torque values on the procedures, and talking up the value of properly torquing fasteners. The enforcement part comes into play for the small percentage of technicians that don’t have that inherent pride of workmanship.
Remember: Reliability doesn’t cost; it pays.
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Filed Under: Featured, Maintenance Excellence | Tags: maintenance, maintenance procedures, process management, quality, reliability, standard operating procedure, standard work
Comments
By Tim Kister on June 4th, 2009 at 8:13 am
Bob was right on target regarding the importance of proper torque application during repairs. We emphasize in our LCE Planner/Scheduler Training the importance of including torque values in the job plans and torque wrenches identified in the tools required section. The number one push back we hear is the resistence of technicians to read the work plan. That is where his point about management reinforcement is so important. Requiring torque values to be logged in work order history and work sampling are two effective ways to demonstrate the importance. Great article, I’ll be referencing it in our future P/S training classes.
By Jay Mattson on June 11th, 2009 at 9:05 am
What should I look for in a precision torque wrench or torque screwdriver? Digital or mechanical? Which is better? What brand is best? Do you know Apco Mossberg? They are local to me and I know they have been in business for quite a long time (100+ years)…but their business seems to be down a bit. Any insight?
By Ben Onuwor on June 17th, 2009 at 6:01 am
You have said the obvious. I also make the mistake of insisting on performing shaft alignment right. But I never ensured uniform coupling bolt or driving machine foot hold-down bolts with torque wrenches. Every team needs a list of recommended bolt torques.
By Carl Haber on September 30th, 2009 at 9:40 am
We buy from Apco Mossberg. They are still in business and still going strong. Never received better customer service anywhere. It’s about reliability. I wouldn’t go anywhere else for torque products.