Product category:
Cutting lubricants, coolants, systems and treatment
News Release from: Castrol UK | Subject: Cutting lubricants management
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 02 December 2005
One oil supplier saves costs on engine
line
Having one supplier to manage the coolant systems and deliveries on production lines machining aluminium, CI and steel engine components is reducing maintenance costs and maintaining efficiency.
The 4.2 litre V8 engine for the stunning new Jaguar XK Coupe is one of a number built at Ford's engine manufacturing facility at Bridgend, South Wales This new engine - together with an existing 4.4 litre V8 and an in-line six cylinder for Ford's Premier Automotive Group and successful Zetec four-cylinder engines - put the plant on schedule to reach a target of a million power units annually by 2010
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 10 Jun 2003 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Cutting fluid reduces aluminium machining downtime
Specially formulated for machining aluminium, a cutting fluid has helped a leading automotive component manufacturer reduce downtime, improve tool life and save on coolant costs.
Coolant trials lead to significant annual savings
Offering a One-Stop-Shop engineering service that includes casting, machining and paint finishing, a Sandy company has saved more than 50% on coolant consumption - an annual saving of GBP18,000.
To meet Bridgend's current output 1,600 people are involved in the machining of engine blocks and components from aluminium, cast iron and steel.
The processes require more than thirty central coolant systems - fourteen of them on Sigma - each feeding up to eighteen machines.
The systems range in size from 5,000 to 320,000 litres, with the largest located in the PAG aluminium head machining area.
Further reading
Overheats on automatics led to coolant change
Running two new sliding-head CNC machines at speed with a conventional chlorine-free mineral oil caused serious overheating problems until the user changed to a synthetic cutting fluid.
Total fluid management saved production costs
When TRW Automotive began losing production time due to fungal problems in machine tools, they decided to take on a total fluid management programme and saved some GBP 150,000 in 3 years.
CNC machine shop cuts fluids consumption
A company operating around thirty mainly CNC machines has reduced fluid consumption, cut costs and resolved health and safety issues.
All hydrocarbons for Bridgend, including metalworking and component washing fluids, cutting oils, lubricants, hydraulic oils and first-fill engine oils, are supplied through a site-wide Commodity Management Service (CMS) that was awarded to Castrol in 2003.
To make CMS work contract manager Phil Booker, one of Castrol's team of three at Bridgend, depends on the cooperation of the other suppliers involved in the contract, some of which also have teams on site.
Phil reports directly to Bridgend plant engineering manager Malcolm Carnall on all fluid management activities, including those of the Castrol team, which manages and monitors the coolant and wash systems for the Sigma engine line.
Commenting on the decision to introduce a commodity management service Malcolm Carnall says it has consolidated the supplier base and given Bridgend a single point of contact.
"Dealing with one person is still considered to be one of the most important operational benefits, whether we are reviewing individual engine lines or discussing product selection." He says.
"It simplifies everything.
Castrol controls fluids at every level: working closely with our stores staff to ensure that the optimum quantity of each fluid is available on site; managing all additives that are introduced into cooling systems, component washing machines, etc., and they have overall responsibility for the sampling and monitoring of fluids seven days a week.
Any concerns are discussed and if necessary the basic analysis carried out in Castrol's on-site laboratory is supplemented by samples being sent for analysis to Castrol's main laboratory at Hyde.
On-site staff also compile consolidated weekly reports covering the fluid management activities of all suppliers on the site, which are circulated to the appropriate Ford personnel." Other reports are generated to cover trends in system unavailability (which affects production downtime), critical machining operations that require coolant analysis on a daily basis, and special issues outside the scope of the daily activities.
Phil Booker has to ensure that all suppliers work to meet Ford's operational objectives, of which the most important are safety, quality, delivery, cost, morale and environmental issues.
He also has to adhere strictly to similar policies laid down by Castrol and its parent company BP, which include producing Near Miss and ASA (HSSE related) reports.
To these, he adds the very practical objective for all fluid suppliers at Bridgend - to minimise system downtime while working safely with no accidents.
Asked if CMS has provided cost benefits to match the obvious operational advantages, Carnall says the move has provided Bridgend with substantial cost savings.
Summing up, he says that while strong ties between BP, Castrol and Ford already existed through their motorsport alliance, on the factory floor it is hands-on service and support that counts - and that is what Castrol delivers through CMS.
Further evidence of Ford's drive for process efficiencies is the recent signing of a contract for Castrol to operate its 'Predict' service which, supported by a state-of-the-art laboratory, is helping Bridgend to reduce maintenance costs and maintain machine efficiency on the site.
Commenting for Castrol, Chris Poole says a recent survey of a number of industrial sectors estimated that 89% of maintenance costs are related to the mechanical wear of oil lubricated machines.
"With oil lubricated machines accounting for such a large proportion of the maintenance effort it is no surprise that the relationship between lubrication and mechanical wear is now used as a tool by services such as Castrol's 'Predict'." He says, adding that Predict inspects and monitors conditions within machines and, with the development of the latest analytical techniques combining the principles of ferrography and spectroscopy, predicts future maintenance requirements.
• Castrol UK: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Manufacturingtalk email newsletter
• Manufacturingtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
