On today’s episode of The Maintainers, hosts David and Jake welcome Jake Hall, the Facilities Maintenance Supervisor at O-I Glass, a prominent global manufacturer of glass containers. Chances are, you’ve enjoyed a drink from one of their bottles at some point in your life.

Jake Rice shares a wealth of experiences, from his time as a Navy Interior Communication Specialist to his adventures as a deep-sea diver, ultimately leading him to a fulfilling career in industrial maintenance. Interestingly, before joining O-I Glass, he was unaware that their manufacturing facility was located just around the corner from his home in Toano.

Listeners will gain insights into the challenges of manpower shortages in the post-COVID landscape, as well as the complexities involved in managing continuous and batch processes within glass manufacturing. Throughout the discussion, Rice emphasizes the critical importance of knowledge transfer and his innovative approach to apprenticeship within his team.

The episode also provides an insider’s perspective on maintaining a factory that has been operational for decades, producing thousands of glass bottles every minute. Jake discusses how companies should prepare for the future workforce and advocates for a shift in how maintenance careers are perceived. Whether you’re an industry veteran or just starting out, Jake Rice’s stories and advice are sure to inspire and educate.

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Guest Bio

Jake Rice is 44 years old and has had quite the journey through the maintenance world. Jake joined the navy after high school, worked and received two AS degrees. After the Navy, Jake worked at an R&D company out of the NASA Langley Research Park, worked as an offshore commercial diver, and is now the Facilities Maintenance Supervisor at Owens Illinois (O-I) glass plant in Toano, Virginia. 

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Guest Quote

"When you take manufacturing and you no longer view it as a last resort career opportunity. But as [one] that people should be excited about because [of] the success that it can create in a person's future...I think that's going to make these companies, and really the future of our factories a lot more successful.” – Jake Rice

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Time Stamps 

00:00 Episode Start

01:50 Opening Icebreaker

03:15  Jake's Background

07:30 Segment 01: The Maintainer Mashup

08:10 The journey to O-I Glass

13:05 How O-I Glass Operates

17:00 Maintaining a plant that produces over 1,500 bottles per minute

18:45 Managing a declining workforce post pandemic

23:40 Segment 02: What's in Your Toolkit?

24:00 Where Jake makes his impact

27:15 Segment 03: The Future of Factories

28:20 Shifting the perspective of manufacturing

29:30 Why instant solutions are a challenge for the industry

32:45 Tackling outdated equipment

34:10 Segment 04: Fix It Funnies 

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Links

• Connect with Jake Rice on LinkedIn
• Check out O-I Glass
• Connect with David Lee on LinkedIn
• Connect with Jake Hall on LinkedIn
• Learn more about Tractian