Tycho,
Pump cavitation is a headache in a production facility, as it upsets critical room temperatures required for quality control.
some plants have machines that are to big, or added onto & not quite as you would like.
I have seen a number of damaged pumps over the year due to cavitation, low liquid levels, controls that don’t work, oil & crappy design.
Usually bearing issues on hermetic pumps & sometimes rotor hits stator.
Hermetic Pumpen good but no bearing indication like Japanese brands we use, Nikkiso & Teikoku which have electronic indication.
Does not happen every day, but now & then.