Ever tried rolling out digital tools across multiple plants—only to find culture is the real challenge? Marian Samaan from Diageo shares how she’s navigating digital transformation across 12 sites, building asset care programs, and using RCA and condition monitoring to drive real business impact on this episode of Reliability 4.0 .

We dig into:

🔸 Why cultural transformation is the real challenge in tech adoption

🔸 How Diageo is using sensors, cloud tools, and connected platforms

🔸 The problem with too many systems—and the case for digital twinning

🔸 What it means to focus on the “important few”

🔸 How RCA helps shift from firefighting to reliability-centered strategies

If you're leading reliability across multiple sites—or struggling to unify priorities—this episode offers a clear path forward.

This episode is available on:

📺 YouTube

🎧 Apple Music

Or wherever you get your podcasts!

Want to learn how EasyRCA helps teams cut through noise and solve what really matters? Start your journey: https://easyrca.com/engage

#Reliability40 #RootCauseAnalysis #DigitalTransformation #CultureChange #ConditionMonitoring #AssetCare 

Ever launched a pilot that never went anywhere? Leo Castillo from ICU Medical unpacks the costly trap of “pilot purgatory”—when promising tech never scales past testing. With nearly two decades of experience spanning supply chain, IT, and operations, Leo shares practical strategies for turning pilots into long-term wins on this episode of Reliability 4.0.

We dig into:

🔸 What pilot purgatory is and how to avoid it

🔸Why appetite, adoption, and alignment matter more than features

🔸 How to track the right KPIs (think: OEE, throughput, scrap rate)

🔸 Why setting expectations and exit strategies is non-negotiable

🔸 Where root cause analysis fits into a scalable digital transformation

If you're running pilots—or stuck in one—this episode will help you rethink how to get out of test mode and into results.

This episode is available on:

📺 YouTube

🎧 Apple Music

Or wherever you get your podcasts!

Interested in running a successful pilot of our RCA software, EasyRCA? We've helped teams across the globe pilot and roll out EasyRCA across entire enterprises. Want to learn more? https://easyrca.com/engage

#PilotPurgatory #DigitalTransformation #RootCauseAnalysis #Reliability #Maintenance #Reliability40

What if your best employee could train an AI system, so no knowledge is lost when they retire? In this episode of Reliability 4.0, we sit down with Ron Norris, former Director of Innovation at Georgia-Pacific and now founder of Advanced Innovation Management (AIM), to unpack how he used causal AI to capture decades of expert knowledge and improve operational decision-making across supply chain, procurement, and more.

We dig into:

🔸 What causal AI is, and why it’s different from traditional AI

🔸 How it helped increase touchless order processing from “a single digit to 90%”

🔸 Why knowledge + data > data alone

🔸 How to use AI for hypothesis testing and explainable decisions

🔸 What this means for the next generation of RCA and reliability tools

If you’re facing a wave of retirements, struggling with knowledge transfer, or curious about the role of AI in root cause analysis, this episode will spark new ideas.

This episode is available on:

📺 YouTube:

🎧 Apple Music

Or wherever you get your podcasts!

Looking to make RCA faster, smarter, and easier to scale? Get in touch with our team at https://easyrca.com/engage

#Reliability40 #CausalAI #RootCauseAnalysis #KnowledgeCapture #DigitalTransformation #ManufacturingInnovation

What do wearables, IIoT, and root cause analysis have in common?

In this episode of Reliability 4.0, we sit down with Drew Allen, CEO of Grace Technologies, to talk about the future of maintenance safety, innovation, and culture. From condition monitoring to electrical safety tools to a new wearable that literally vibrates when you’re approaching danger—Drew shares how his team is pushing reliability forward.

We dig into:

🔸 Why culture matters more than strategy when rolling out tech

🔸 How to identify the right assets for condition monitoring

🔸 What their “Proxy” wearable does, and how it saved lives

🔸 How Grace built a culture of risk-taking with reliability baked in

🔸 Why RCA is key to turning sensor data into smarter decisions

If you lead reliability, safety, or maintenance teams—or just want to learn how to deliver quick wins while building a long-term plan—this one’s for you.

This episode is available on:

📺 YouTube

🎧 Apple Music

Or wherever you get your podcasts!

Want to explore how sensor data and RCA can work together to reduce downtime and improve safety? Reach out to our team at https://easyrca.com/engage

#Reliability #Maintenance #RootCauseAnalysis #ConditionMonitoring #WearableTech #Reliability40

What does it take to scale an RCA program across a massive manufacturing network?In this episode of Reliability 4.0, we sit down with Greg Evans and Brandy Heath from CMC to unpack how they rolled out EasyRCA across 40+ sites, onboarded over 400 users, and gained traction in places they didn’t expect—like IT and safety teams.

We dig into:

• Why CMC needed a standard RCA tool in the first place

• How they evaluated and trialed EasyRCA to see if it fit their needs

• What made EasyRCA stand out (hint: visual workflows and ease of use)

• How their power user strategy fueled faster adoption

• The unexpected use cases that are helping drive cross-functional reliability

If you're deploying software across multiple locations—or trying to get better follow-through on RCAs—this episode is full of real-world strategies and insights from a team that’s making it happen.

This episode is available on:

📺 YouTube

🎧 Apple Music

Or wherever you get your podcasts!

Looking to improve your RCA process, unify your team’s approach, or explore EasyRCA? Message us directly or reach out here: https://easyrca.com/engage

#RootCauseAnalysis #Reliability #Maintenance #ContinuousImprovement #Reliability40 #DigitalTransformation

What happens when AI gets trained like a doctor—only for your mining equipment?

In this episode of Reliability 4.0 , we sit down with Michael Zolotov, Co-Founder and CTO of Razor Labs, to explore how his team is using AI sensor fusion to detect failures weeks before traditional systems sound the alarm. Michael shares how they built an “automated doctor” for fixed and mobile assets, and how it’s already helping clients like Glencore save millions.

We dig into:

🔸 Why most legacy AI models fail in mining—and what to do instead

🔸 How Razor Labs reduced failure detection time by 3–5 weeks

🔸 The two ROI stories that win over execs: less downtime, lower maintenance cost

🔸 How their platform integrates with SCADA, SAP, oil analysis & more

🔸 Where RCA software fits in for long-term strategy

If you're curious about how AI can solve real equipment issues—not just produce pretty dashboards—this episode delivers.

This episode is available on:

📺 YouTube

🎧 Apple Music

Or wherever you get your podcasts!

Want to explore how AI and RCA can work hand-in-hand to solve your toughest reliability challenges? Message us or connect at: https://easyrca.com/engage

#Reliability40 #AIinMining #RootCauseAnalysis #PredictiveMaintenance #MiningInnovation #DigitalTransformation

What really makes or breaks a CMMS rollout? In this episode of Reliability 4.0, we sit down with Greg Christensen, host of CMMSradio, to unpack the lessons he’s learned personally and from hundreds of conversations with maintenance and operations pros navigating the world of CMMS and asset management.

We dig into:

🔸 Why CMMS projects fail (hint: it’s not the software)

🔸 How to build a business case for switching systems

🔸 What separates shiny tech from real process improvement

🔸 The role of leadership, training, and user buy-in

🔸 Where RCA fits into the big picture of long-term success

If you’re evaluating vendors, leading a digital transformation, or just trying to make your plant more reliable — this episode is full of real talk and hard-won insights.

This episode is available on:

📺 YouTube

Or wherever you get your podcasts!

If you’re looking for practical ways to strengthen your reliability program, tie your CMMS data to real problem-solving, or make RCA easier for your team, let us know! You can message us directly or get in touch with our team here: https://easyrca.com/engage.

#CMMS #Maintenance #Reliability #RootCauseAnalysis #Reliability40 #DigitalTransformation

In this highlight from the Reliability 4.0 Podcast, Jerid Jackson shares how he implemented EasyRCA across nearly 40 PepsiCo (Frito-Lay North America) sites. He explains the real-world challenges of standardizing failure analysis, the value of AI in creating executive summaries and corrective actions, and how EasyRCA makes it possible to replicate solutions across identical equipment—all while improving follow-through and collaboration.

📌 Watch the full episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzN7qj8sbHo 

🔔 Subscribe for more Reliability 4.0 insights!

In this episode of Reliability 4.0, we talk with Jerid Jackson, Reliability and Asset Management Senior Manager at PepsiCo - Frito Lay North America, about how he helped roll out a standardized root cause analysis (RCA) program across a complex network of nearly 40 manufacturing sites. Jerid shares the challenges of supporting diverse teams with varying levels of RCA maturity and how EasyRCA became a practical solution for improving follow-through, standardization, and equipment uptime. He also explains how thoughtful change management—starting with pilot sites, hands-on support, and internal collaboration—fueled widespread adoption.

We also dive into how Jerid’s team uses EasyRCA’s AI features to build better executive summaries, guide users to deeper levels of analysis, and increase confidence across all experience levels. Jerid highlights success stories from sites like Aberdeen and Fayetteville, the importance of collaboration via user group calls, and how PROACT training has deepened the organization’s RCA capabilities. Whether you’re supporting a single plant or managing a network, this episode is packed with lessons on building reliability at scale.

In this episode of Reliability 4.0, we speak with Allen Garcia, mechanical engineer at Baker Hughes and PhD candidate at the University of Maryland, where his research centers on AI applications in engineering. Allen shares how he transitioned from traditional mechanical design to AI-powered reliability tools, offering a rare perspective from someone bridging deep technical experience with cutting-edge machine learning. He explains how large language models (LLMs) are helping engineers process work order data, generate knowledge graphs, and accelerate time-consuming tasks like FMEAs and RCAs.We also explore the future of AI-driven maintenance—from dynamic RCAs that update in real-time to domain-specific models built just for reliability and maintenance professionals. Allen weighs in on EasyRCA’s current AI features, the challenge of accuracy in industrial models, and the opportunity to build smarter tools without replacing human insight. Whether you’re an engineer curious about AI or a data scientist entering reliability, this is a grounded and insightful look at where the field is headed.