TIM Goshert says failures and set-backs are inherent parts of maintenance and reliability improvements, and persistence and perseverance is needed to achieve the culture changes required.
Although the road is also studded with successes and significant positive results and rewards, Goshert says it is important to face the challenges presented by difficult periods.
Changing facilities and businesses from reactive to proactive maintenance can often be a big task, requiring entire cultures and ways of thinking to be changed.
Management can sometimes be content with middle-of-the-road maintenance standards, or be tempted to take short cuts to reduce costs. Others find security in doing things the way they have always been done.
According to Goshert, these challenges can be combated with six tips.
Firstly, stay focused on the final vision and goal. This can be achieved by envisioning the rewards for everyone involved upon achievement of the goal.
Secondly, stay well-grounded in maintenance and reliability principles by continuously engaging in education.
Thirdly, these principles should be taught to others. This act of communication also solidifies personal knowledge on the principles and best practices.
Fourthly, performance should be benchmarked against other internal and external facilities. External benchmarking is important to ensure the focus does not become too inwardly oriented.
Related to the outward focus in the fourth point, Goshert says networking with other maintenance and reliability professionals should be undertaken at every opportunity. By developing and building allies within the field and in other disciplines, maintenance personnel can call for help or reinforcement as needed.
Most importantly, maintenance professionals should adhere to the foundational reliability principles, even when challenged or attacked.
Tim Goshert is the worldwide reliability and maintenance manager for Cargill. He is responsible for the company's global reliability and maintenance initiatives and is chairman of the company's Worldwide Reliability and Maintenance Steering Committee. Tim is an active member of the Society of Maintenance & Reliability Professionals (SMRP) and serves on its board of directors.
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