Practical tech: apply relevance not novelty

Scott Mackenzie announced upcoming events where Industrial Talk will broadcast, including Power Gen January 20-22 and MD&M West February 3-5. He introduced George Williams, who discussed his career progression from a painter to a global asset manager and co-founder of ReliabilityX. George emphasized the importance of growing "doers" through education, training, and mentoring to improve plant performance and reliability. He highlighted the need for practical applications of technology, such as using vibration sensors to prevent product giveaway. George also stressed the importance of collaboration, innovation, and adapting to the changing workforce to ensure sustainability and relevance in the industry.

Action Items

• [ ] Broadcast Industrial Talk on site at PowerGen (January 20–22) and host conversations at booth 349 during the event
• [ ] Broadcast Industrial Talk on site at MD&M West (February 3–5) in Anaheim and engage attendees on the show floor
• [ ] Publish George Williams / ReliabilityX contact information and link on the Industrial Talk website and include it with the episode content
• [ ] Build and maintain the members-only area on the ReliabilityX website with a growing library of Kahoot quizzes (pneumatics, hydraulics, power transmission, etc.) for team training and engagement

Outline

Upcoming Events and Broadcasts

• Scott announces upcoming events where Industrial Talk will be broadcasting on-site, including Power Gen January 20-22 at booth 349 and MD&M West February 3-5 in Anaheim, California.
• Emphasizes the importance of attending these events for manufacturing professionals and encourages listeners to look him up for specific discussions.
• Scott welcomes listeners to the Industrial Talk podcast, celebrating industry professionals and their contributions to making the world a better place.

Introduction of George Williams and ReliabilityX

• Scott introduces George Williams, a key figure at ReliabilityX, and praises the organization for its commitment to storytelling and roundtable discussions.
• George Williams shares his background, starting as a painter in a large pharmaceutical plant and eventually becoming responsible for global asset management.
• Discusses his transition to a $17 billion medical device company and eventually starting his own business with his partner, Joe.
• Highlights the passion of George and Joe for seeing people grow and succeed in their careers.

Core Business of ReliabilityX

• George explains that ReliabilityX's core business is the growth of doers, focusing on educating, training, coaching, and mentoring individuals to improve plant performance and reliability.
• Emphasizes the importance of understanding and focusing on the growth of individuals rather than just the technical aspects of reliability.
• Discusses the need for executive support to scale business and the importance of simplifying reliability for broader understanding and application.
• Outlines the three key principles of reliability: stopping being the source of problems, doing the right preventive maintenance, and managing degradation.

Challenges and Solutions in Reliability

• Scott and George discuss the challenges of maintaining focus in a rapidly changing market and the importance of practical applications of technology.
• George shares examples of practical applications, such as using vibration sensors to prevent product giveaway and automating processes to improve efficiency.
• Emphasizes the need for companies to focus on the relevance of technology to their business and to avoid being distracted by shiny objects.
• Highlights the importance of a people-centric approach to reliability and the challenges of getting executives to support reliability initiatives.

Building a Community of Reliability Professionals

• George discusses the importance of building a community of reliability professionals and the role of ReliabilityX in providing resources and support.
• Mentions the creation of a members-only area on their website, including a Kahoot platform for team building and knowledge checks.
• Emphasizes the need for collaboration within the community to raise awareness of reliability and to share best practices.
• Highlights the importance of innovation in solving reliability problems and the role of ReliabilityX in providing practical solutions.

Addressing the Aging Workforce and Inspiring Young Professionals

• Scott and George discuss the challenge of inspiring young professionals to enter the reliability field and the impact of an aging workforce.
• George shares insights on the generational differences and the need to adapt communication and engagement strategies to reach younger professionals.
• Emphasizes the importance of storytelling and creating a sense of belonging for young professionals to feel part of the reliability community.
• Highlights the role of ReliabilityX in growing 10,000 doers and the importance of a people-centric approach to reliability.

Final Thoughts and Contact Information

• George shares his contact information and encourages listeners to reach out to ReliabilityX for support and resources.
• Scott wraps up the podcast, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, innovation, and education in the reliability field.
• Encourages listeners to attend the SMRP conference and to reach out to Industrial Talk for further support and amplification of their voices.
• Concludes with a call to action for listeners to be bold, brave, and innovative in their reliability efforts.