Article originally published on Noria.com.
Mechanics, lubrication technicians and even equipment operators must be skilled at giving physicals. Like a doctor or pilot, they need to be alert to subtle changes or symptoms that might be an early sign of machine malfunction or accelerated wear. One of the obvious problems with conducting such inspections is that for most machines, the critical operating components are shielded from view by panels, casings, guards and housings, including the lubricant in most cases. It’s like asking your doctor to give you a physical while wearing body armor.
Still, the machine and the lubricant can telegraph hints and signals to us in a variety of ways but only if we are both tuned in and literate to their messages. Tuned in means being vigilant and ubiquitous, like a detective, always looking for clues even when camouflaged from view. Literate means not only recognizing the presence of the clue but also being wise to the meaning of its message and the corrective response.
(read the entire article, "How to Give Your Machine a Physical." at Noria.com...)
