Machinery Lubrication India Jan Feb 14 10 | Page 35

MLI

VIEW POINT
JIM FITCH NORIA CORPORATION

Tribology is a
BEHAVIORAL Science
It ain't just about the oil. In recent

hundreds of conversations on this topic

Pillars to a Prosperous Maintenance

years, it has become increasingly clear

with individuals from many companies

Culture." Because of the central theme

to me that applied tribology is more

and countries. Some come from

of this magazine, I've put these pillars

about training and behavioral science

organizations infected with culture

into a lubrication context:

than about engineering and material

problems,

science. I would guess that for every

while

others

represent

businesses that have emerged from a

1. Unwavering

Management

Commitment - Have you ever

bearing that failed due to a problem

wondered why lubrication neglect

lubricant (wrong selection, poor

isn't

quality, etc.) there are ten others

CEO awake at night? Maybe he

that fail due to problem lubrication

doesn't know how it's impacting

(neglect,

timing,

the company's bottom line and his

etc.). No amount of expertise in

bonus. You have to be interested in

lubrication and machine reliability

lubrication for managers to lead,

will

destructive

incite needed change and succeed

by

at it. Managers who are purposeful

procedural,

overcome

aftermath

the

caused

rotten

maintenance culture.

keeping

your

company's

and choose to both inspire and
support

lubrication

initiatives

In fact. most companies seem to

have the unique opportunity to

have a maintenance culture that is

build charged-up and prosperous

in urgent need of an intervention

maintenance teams.

a

2. The Right People - We've heard

column on a 12-step program for

the saying that employees are a

recovering addicts of lubrication

company's most important asset.

neglect.1 Although similar, this

This is true, but only when it is

strategy.

column

I

recently

discusses

wrote

culture

and

behavioral foundation issues that seem

successful transformation. Then there

the right people in the right jobs.
Incompetent or poorly matched

to be at the core of lubrication neglect

are those organizations which achieved

and other maintenance performance

transformation but transgressed to

positions

malfunctions. It borrows much from

their bad habits and past addictive

operational risks rather than be

management science and leadership

practices.

productive assets. Select, nurture

principles.

people working in maintenance
can

present

sizeable

and inspire the right people to build
Drawing upon my years of learning

Over the years, I've engaged in

a prosperous maintenance culture.

on the subject, I have compiled "Eight

3. Proactive and Planning - The

www.machinerylubricationindia.com | January-February 2014 | 33