But the reports are only as good as the data on which you base them, so you need efficient ways of collecting accurate data. To reduce the overhead of manual collection methods, talk to vendors about automated data collection through your control systems and power monitoring system. For manual collection:

• Collect only the data you need. Ask for too much, and accuracy plummets. Don't ask for data that would be "nice to have."
• Use simple collection forms. Provide predetermined choices, wherever possible, ensuring the choices include "other."
• Motivate the data collectors
. Techs under pressure to do repairs (or PM) with equipment shut down need frequent reminders that recording data serves a vital purpose. When you can show a connection between results and data collection, do so.

Another cause is excessive greasing. Excess grease can:

• Hold in heat to the point that all of the grease melts and runs out, leaving the bearing dry.
• Create a hard crust that abrades the bearing.
• Short your windings.

• Review breaker information for completeness and accuracy, as part of the scheduled PM.
• Store test results digitally so they can be easily accessed and easily trended.
• Store thermal image files digitally, to speed up retrieval and comparison.

Make a point of correcting this "lost-in-translation" problem, but don't stop there. Art. 110 and OSHA 1926.403 provide several values of minimum clearances for safety. The clearances needed to maximize the average revenue per square foot of the facility could be significantly more.

If a production line produces $250,000 an hour of revenue, what's the net loss resulting from the "fully utilized" floor space arrangement that doubles the time needed for repair?