Partnership oils the wheels for £1m cost savings

The below article features in British Steel's 'STEEL MATTERS' publication for March 2018.

Not long after our launch as British Steel, a joint team from Procurement and Operations went down an innovative route to source a lubricant partner with a portfolio of the highest standard. A Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) approach was adopted and subsequent measures in place equate to an annual cost saving of more than £1m.

FUCHS LUBRICANTS (UK) plc offers premium and Original Equipment Manufacturing (OEM) approved lubricants, designed to significantly improve the life of machinery and limit downtime.

Sara Fletcher, Senior Sourcing Lead, said: “The ultimate objective of the partnership was to ensure reliability and protection across our operations. FUCHS offers the right lubricants, better service techniques, maintenance
practices and schedules. Reliability and protection of the site operations has improved, reducing manufacturing costs and creating savings.”

The value we get from this full-service and holistic approach to our lubrication needs includes operations, technical, environment and processes support. Utilising the PIP approach, we’ve rationalised the number of
oils, greases and hydraulic fluids on site and increased fluid awareness. In turn, this has reduced complexities and volumes used to such an extent that the number of grades of lubricants we use has fallen by 35%.

FUCHS has also delivered training programmes to our junior engineers and apprentices, giving our future steelworkers knowledge, understanding and techniques required to manage lubricant use. Knowing what type to use where, when and how will prolong the life of our assets.

Grahame Wallace, Chief Engineer, said: “All our moving machinery depends on some form of lubricant for reliable and consistent operation. In FUCHS, we’ve found a partner that’s working with us not only to offer
product advice but also technical support and training for sustainable improvements.”

A FUCHS team is based on our Scunthorpe site and working with our Engineering team to improve usage, application and waste reduction. We’ve also implemented environmental improvements through FUCHS funding new oil storage solutions for us.

Jon Ford, Works Engineer Steelmaking, is chair of the Lubrication Strategy team and said: “The progress we’re making is encouraging – we all agree this is vital to our success. Now we need to continue the improvements by following the PIPs and identifying new projects as existing ones are closed out. We’ve a sustainability process in place so our excellent achievements carry on, regardless of who’s leading the initiative.

“We’ve the ideal partner in FUCHS and through this strong partnership we’re confident lubrication will be the foundation of our engineering strategy.”

FUCHS Steel Sector Key Account Manager Chris Morris is delighted with the feedback everyone’s been giving. He said: “The work we’ve done to date has been very well received with our PIP philosophy being adopted as a way of driving improvements.

“Thanks go to the whole FUCHS team – we’re doing a great job and there are far more opportunities to explore and develop together with British Steel in the future.”

Read the PDF version HERE.