Scott Deckers, Senior Customer Success Manager at Fiix Software, joins the Asset Reliability @ Work podcast to talk about the benefits of cloud-based CMMS management. Scott highlights some of the functionalities of their mobile app, the value organizations obtain from collecting real-time data and the security measures behind the software.

Discussion highlights include:

• Understanding the benefits associated with cloud-based maintenance management
• Explaining the features and functionality of their mobile app technology
• Identifying critical success factors in transitioning to a cloud-based CMMS platform
• Discussing the security behind the software

Additional Resources:

• Fiix Software website
• Scott Deckers on LinkedIn

Mike Smith joins the Asset Reliability @ Work podcast to talk about the role of today's Reliability Engineer. Together, we'll explore how that role has transformed over the years in terms of responsibilities and training. Mike will tell you what he thinks should be in the RE's toolbox and he'll provide advice for those looking to become proficient within this job field.

Discussion highlights include:

• Discussing how the responsibilities have changed over the years
• Understanding the current challenges facing REs
• Identifying training opportunities that didn't exist before
• Identifying the 3-5 "tools" that every RE should have in their toolbox

Additional Resources:

• What's the Role of the Reliability Engineer
• How a Reliability Engineer Improves Reliability
• Reliability Engineering Certification
• Mike Smith on LinkedIn

John Cray stops in studio to discuss how maintenance and operations personnel can effectively measure their reliability activities using a reliability scorecard. John will also provide some personal insights on basic KPIs that should be measured as well as some more advanced metrics for those organizations who have already started measuring their reliability initiatives.

Discussion highlights include:

• Explaining the purpose of a reliability scorecard
• Discussing what needs to be done prior to measuring your activities
• Identifying basic and advanced KPIs to be measured

Additional Resources:

• Making Common Sense Common Practice: Models for Manufacturing Excellence
• Maintenance and Reliability Best Practices
• Using a Reliability Scorecard to Measure if Your Project is Delivering Results
• Reliability Excellence for Managers Course
• Connect with John Cray on LinkedIn

Jeff Nevenhoven returns to the podcast to talk about his real-world experience of having facilitated a change initiative and his encounters with those unforeseen forces hindering success. Jeff will walk us through how he and the organization overcame those obstacles.

Discussion highlights include:

• Facing resistance to change and how to overcome
• Advice for planning for the unexpected
• Explaining the lessons learned

Additional Resources:

• Managing Change: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back (article)
• Coaching Employees Through Change
• Prosci Change Management Certification Program
• Jeff Nevenhoven on LinkedIn

Bob Fei, President and CEO of Life Cycle Engineering, provides his C-level insights on how to create a culture that inspires innovation and explains why it's crucial for all organizations to make innovation a key part of their work environment.

Discussion highlights include:

• Understanding why innovation within manufacturing is a vital piece to achieving industry success
• Explaining the difference between innovation and continuous improvement
• Discussing examples from LCE's experience in creating an innovative culture
• Advice for organizational leaders who want to establish a culture of innovation

Additional Resources:

• Drive: The surprising truth about what motivates us
• LaunchPath Innovation
• Bob Fei on LinkedIn

Johnny Brown, an Asset Management Services Technician, highlights the obstacles that prevent a manufacturing facility from achieving a cohesive and highly efficient work environment. Johnny discusses how to break down some of these barriers in order to create functional partnerships.

Discussion highlights include:

• Identifying some of the barriers that exist in a manufacturing facility
• Explaining how these obstacles came to be and the complexity of how to solve them
• Step One: Sell the idea of one plant, one team
• Step Two: Implement

Additional Resources:

• Break Down Barriers with a One Plant, One Team Approach
• Breaking Down Organizational Barriers by Creating Plant Partnerships
• How Do You Create Partnership Agreements
• Connect with Johnny Brown on LinkedIn

Doug Wallace, Senior Materials Management SME, makes his second appearance on the Asset Reliability @Work podcast to give his 12 steps to help materials managers regain control of their inventory warehouse.

Discussion highlights include:

• Understanding the issues of inventory management
• Discussing the twelve steps in detail

Additional Resources:

• 12 Steps to Inventory Recovery (web article)
• 12 Steps Infographic
• Doug Wallace on LinkedIn

In this year-end review episode, Dan Anderson, Account Manager and SMRP Communications Chair, discusses the highlights and noticeable trends from the 2017 conference season as well as identifying the top issues from the maintenance and reliability community throughout the year.

Discussion highlights include:

• Highlighting trends from the 2017 conference season
• Identifying the common pain points from the reliability community
• Discussing the rise in technology
• Providing tips for those navigating today's reliability culture

John Cray makes his second appearance on the podcast to discuss how leadership, vision and behavior can develop a culture that values data integrity and effectively utilizes their CMMS.

Discussion highlights include:

• Explaining how to establish a set of CMMS guiding principles that drives consistency and data integrity
• Discussing who should be responsible for creating a culture that embraces CMMS
• Summarizing how measures and audits can motivate and sustain desired system use

Additional Resources:

• Developing a Work Culture that Embraces its CMMS and Values Data Accuracy (IndustryWeek article)
• John Cray on LinkedIn

In our final discussion of this three-part series with Greg Flickinger, Chairman of the OpX Leadership Network and Group Vice President of Manufacturing Operations for HEB grocery stores, we talk about the effects training has on boosting employee engagement.

Discussion highlights include:

• The impact of training and upskilling your employees
• Explaining the benefits of certifications in the workplace
• Understanding how to effectively train people in new technology
• How to get the most bang for your buck when it comes to training

Additional Resources:

• Workforce Engagement Whitepaper from Opx Leadership Network
• Greg Flickinger on LinkedIn