Maintenance Lubrication Fundamentals

Maintenance Strategy

• Why machines fail
• The impact of poor maintenance on company profits
• The role of effective lubrication in failure avoidance

Lubrication Theory

• Fundamentals of tribology
• Functions of a lubricant
• Hydrodynamic lubrication (sliding friction)
• Elasto-hydrodynamic lubrication (rolling friction)
• Mixed-film lubrication

Lubricants

• Base-oils
• Additives and their functions
• Oil lubricant physical, chemical and performance properties and classifications
• Grease lubrication
  • How grease is made
  • Thickener types
  • Thickener compatibility
  • Grease lubricant physical, chemical and performance properties and classifications

Lubricant Selection

• Viscosity selection
• Base-oil type selection
• Additive system selection
• Machine specific lubricant requirements
  • Hydraulic systems
  • Rolling element bearings
  • Journal bearings
  • Reciprocating engines
  • Gearing and gearboxes
• Application and environment related adjustments

Lubricant Application

• Basic calculations for determining required lubricant volume
• Basic calculations to determine re-lube and change frequencies
• When to select oil, when to select grease
• Effective use of manual delivery techniques
• Automatic delivery systems
  • Automated deliver options
    • Automated grease systems
    • Oil mist systems
    • Drip and wick lubricators
  • Deciding when to employ automated lubricators
  • Maintenance of automated lubrication systems

Preventive and Predictive Maintenance

• Lube routes and scheduling
• Oil analysis and technologies to assure lubrication effectiveness
• Equipment tagging and identification

Lube Condition Control

• Filtration and separation technologies
• Filter rating
• Filtration system design and filter selection

Lube Storage and Management

• Lubricant receiving procedures
• Proper storage and inventory management
• Lube storage containers
• Proper storage of grease-guns and other lube application devices
• Maintenance of automatic grease systems
• Health and safety assurance

Registration Date/Time:
10/13/2026 07:30am Central Time

Event Dates/Times:

• 10/13/2026  8:00am - 4:30pm Central Time
• 10/14/2026  8:00am - 4:30pm Central Time

This is a HyFlex (in-person and online) taught course. Your registration is for one teaching platform only. Please be prepared to attend all days either in-person or online. Contact us if you have any questions before registering. 

This course uses the Canvas course management and Zoom platforms. A UW NetID is required to access Canvas and digital course materials. Both in-person and online students need a NetID. Your registration confirmation email will walk you through the NetID process and how to access Canvas.

All materials for this course are digital and will be available on the Canvas course website. Access to the course materials and the webinar platform will be provided a few days before the course. Please watch the email address you provided during registration for release dates and pre-course information. Check your spam file if you do not see emails from the "wisc.edu" addresses.

• Instructor

  Paul Dufresne

  Chief Reliability Officer for 'Reliability Playbook'

• Program Director

  Jon Wellik

This course is part of the Maintenance and Reliability Management Certificate. Enhance your maintenance skills while earning a recognized credential.

This course has two attendance options, face-to-face or online.

Face-to-face attendance fee includes morning and afternoon breaks, scheduled lunches, in-person instruction, and course materials.

Online attendance fee includes online instruction and course materials.  Online attendees will access course sessions via the Zoom web conferencing platform.

If you are planning to attend an Interdisciplinary Professional Programs course, payment is required at the time of registration. Below are the payment options:

Pay by Credit Card

Enroll online and pay by credit card.

• Search for the course on the website and then click on the Enroll Now button from the course webpage.
• Enter all necessary course attendee information and payment information on the course enrollment page.
• You will receive an email to confirm successful enrollment and payment.

Enroll over the phone and pay by credit card.

• Call CERC Registrations at 608-262-2451.
• Provide the registrations representative with:
  • the course name, dates, and/or course number.
  • the necessary course attendee information and payment information.
• You will receive either a mailed document or an email to confirm successful enrollment payment.

Pay by Check

Mail in a completed registration form and check payable to UW Madison.

• Fill out a registration form (found either in the back of the course brochure you received in the mail or here).
• Prepare a check, made payable to UW Madison.
• Mail the registration form and check to: CERC Registrations 21 N Park St, Ste 7101 Madison, WI 53715
• You will receive either a mailed document or an email to confirm successful enrollment and payment.

Pay by Purchase Order

• Request Purchase Order information from registration@cerc.wisc.edu
  • If a fee quote is needed, contact custserv@interpro.wisc.edu first
• You will receive an invoice from UW–Madison Business Services for payment, usually within 3–5 business days

Military

If using SF-182 form, please call our registration number at 608-262-2451 or email registration@cerc.wisc.edu for details and instructions.

Event Cancellation

We reserve the right to cancel a course due to insufficient enrollment or unforeseen events. If we cancel a course, participants will be notified via email or phone and will be given the option for a full refund or to transfer their registration and any fees paid to another course. We are not responsible for non-refundable plane tickets, hotel reservations, and other travel related expenses. For enrollee Course Cancellation, refer to notes on course page.

If you cannot attend, please notify us as soon as possible before the course start date for a refund. Once you access course materials, a refund is not available.