Plant Services - August 2007 - (Page 23) CRISIS CORNER Still pipe dreaming Maintenance Crisis progress report shows mixed results wo years ago, I penned a column titled, “Pipe dreamnot the exception. More automation, Six Sigma, and Lean ing: Fix it or they will leave” (www.PlantServices. Maintenance Strategies are making progress on this front, com/articles/2005/503.html). The article was inbut we still have room for improvement. spired by a TV reporter who asked me how I’d know when • Executives spent more time in the boiler room and really knew things were getting better. It was written a couple of months how their businesses work. Finally, management is being held before Hurricane Katrina, a year before the BP pipeline leaks, accountable for developing sustainable business processes a year-and-half before the mess at Walter Reed was reported, and not just short-term stock prices. and long before the outbreak of salmonella in peanut butter • Stockholders held management accountable for long-term caused by a leaky roof and faulty sprinkler system. maintenance strategies. The most exciting development since 2005, the Breach of Duty lawsuit filed by BP stockholders Back then, I noted that the video gaming industry was apagainst their management has sent shock waves through corproaching $1 billion and more than 100,000 kids tried out porate boardrooms worldwide. for “American Idol.” Now there are college degrees offered in computer gaming and more • Maintenance experts testified before Congress than 300,000 kids pursuing their idol dreams. on the State of the Union’s infrastructure. Not If we don’t quite there, but at least congressional forums on It’s been hard getting people to understand change where facilities maintenance issues have been held. that if we don’t change where we’re going, we’ll we’re going, • Presidential candidates were questioned about end up where we’re headed, which isn’t a pleaswe’ll end up long-term maintenance strategies. The 2008 election ant place. Our society is so focused on fulfilling is near. I hope concerned citizens ask them what fields of dreams (if you build it they will come) where we’re they plan to do about the maintenance crisis. that we don’t consider maintenance pipe dreams headed. • A new cabinet position was called the Secretary (if we don’t fix it, everyone will leave). of Maintenance or Reliability Czar. They named While it has gotten worse, it also has gotten a war czar — hopefully we’ll get a czar or czarina soon. better and that’s why I’ve updated the signs of revitalized maintenance. The world would be a better place if: • Hollywood produced an “ER”-type television show on facilities engineering. I haven’t had time to develop scripts to pitch. • Maintenance was perceived as cool. Amazingly, some areas of this and other countries have finally recognized that main• There were books written about maintenance heroes. Not tenance contributes to profits. The Netherlands is working to one published to my knowledge. establish Maintenance Valley. U.S. government leaders and • A Maintenance Hall of Fame was established. Coming professional associations are taking notice. And more students soon: see www.PlantServices.com/articles/2007/120.html are enrolling to pursue technical degrees, but still not in the and send in your nominees. needed numbers. Once implemented, the European Federa• Maintenance was truly understood and valued by our society. tion of National Maintenance Societies’ professional standards Still not there yet, but I’m elated that media, industry leadwill significantly upgrade the image of our noble profession. ers and government leaders are beginning to listen. Want to help achieve these pipe dreams? Spread the word. • Maintenance truly worked with, not against, operations. Pass this article on for outsiders to read. Volunteer to speak Still needs work, but some maintenance and production at local schools about why maintenance is cool. Invite your managers share the same office or swap job responsibilities. company executives to tour your operation. Teach your HR • Not having training had to be justified as vigorously as havstaff about what a maintenance professional needs to know, ing training. Many states subsidize maintenance training, yet so they’ll know who they need to hire. companies decline because of limited available time for their limited staff to be away from the plant. What if you train them and they leave? What if you don’t train them and they stay? E-mail Contributing Editor Joel Leonard at leonard.joel@mpact • One-hundred percent (heck, 90%) uptime was the rule and learning.com. August 2007 www.PLANTSERVICES.com 23 T http://www.plantservices.com/articles/2005/453.html http://www.PlantServices.com/articles/2005/503.html http://www.PlantServices.com/articles/2005/503.html http://www.PlantServices.com/articles/2007/120.html http://www.PLANTSERVICES.com
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