Joe Anderson with ReliabilityX

At the Xcelerate 2024 conference in Austin, Texas, Scott Mackenzie and Joe Anderson discussed the importance of empathy and human connection in leadership. Joe, co-founder and COO of Reliability X, emphasized the need for leaders to treat employees with respect and invest in their development. He highlighted the challenges of organizational instability and the necessity of designating a champion for sustainable success. Joe shared a case where a successful pilot line was disrupted due to lack of investment in people. They also touched on the skilled trade shortage, the need for better PR in promoting trades, and the impact of educational systems on career choices.

Action Items

• [ ] Connect with Joe Anderson on LinkedIn
• [ ] Reach out to Joe Anderson via email

Outline

Accelerate 2024 Conference Introduction

• Scott MacKenzie introduces the Industrial Talk Podcast and welcomes listeners to the Accelerate 2024 conference in Austin, Texas.
• Scott highlights the conference's focus on celebrating industrial professionals who are bold, brave, innovative, and collaborative.
• Joe Anderson is introduced as a positive and passionate industry professional who will be part of the conversation.
• Scott and Joe discuss the conference's theme of integrating technology with people, emphasizing empathy and leadership.

Leadership and Empathy in Industrial Settings

• Joe Anderson discusses the importance of empathy in leadership, noting that leaders often treat employees like numbers rather than human beings.
• Joe shares his experience of touring plants where senior leaders fail to acknowledge workers, which negatively impacts morale and retention.
• Scott mentions a study by GE that showed improved production when management paid attention to frontline workers.
• Joe emphasizes that showing care and acknowledgment can significantly improve employee morale and reduce mistakes.

Introduction to Reliability X

• Joe Anderson introduces himself as the co-founder and COO of Reliability X, a company that helps organizations become highly profitable by developing people.
• Scott praises Reliability X's reputation in asset management and technology.
• Joe explains that Reliability X focuses on the human element, emphasizing the importance of developing people rather than relying on technology alone.
• Scott and Joe discuss the common pitfall of relying too heavily on technology without considering the human element.

Challenges in Organizational Stability

• Joe highlights the issue of instability in companies due to frequent management changes, which hinders the development of sustainable practices.
• Joe explains that his business model is to develop champions within organizations to ensure long-term success.
• Scott asks for an example of a successful implementation of Reliability X's methods, and Joe shares a story about a client who initially did not designate a champion.
• Joe describes how the client's employees revolted when they were moved to other lines, highlighting the importance of investing in people.

The Role of Champions in Organizational Success

• Joe discusses the importance of selecting the right champion for Reliability X's programs, noting that not everyone may be suitable.
• Scott and Joe talk about the process of identifying and developing champions within organizations.
• Joe shares his experience of turning around plants and the challenges of getting organizations to adopt successful practices.
• Joe mentions that seven out of seven plants he turned around were sold by the company, which highlights the lack of long-term commitment to successful practices.

Future Outlook and Skilled Trade Shortage

• Joe expresses cautious optimism about the future, noting that the industry is moving too fast and leaving many behind.
• Joe discusses the skilled trade shortage and the need to promote trades as a viable career path.
• Scott and Joe agree that the industry's PR is poor, and the university system is biased towards promoting college degrees over trade skills.
• Joe shares an exercise he did at a conference, where only a few participants were pushing their kids towards trade careers.

Education and Training in the Industrial Sector

• Scott shares his experience as a PLC instructor at a technical college, noting the lack of reinforcement of training in the field.
• Joe discusses the shift in perception towards trade jobs in the 70s and 80s, which has led to a negative view of trades among young people.
• Joe mentions a survey by McKinley that showed 80% of 16 to 25-year-olds view trade jobs as undesirable.
• Scott and Joe agree that the industry needs to change its PR strategy to promote trade careers more effectively.

Conclusion and Contact Information

• Scott thanks Joe for the conversation and highlights the importance of Reliability X's work in asset management and reliability.
• Scott provides contact information for Joe Anderson, including his LinkedIn profile and email address.
• Scott encourages listeners to connect with Joe and Reliability X for insights and guidance in the industrial sector.
• The podcast concludes with a reminder of the Industrial Talk Podcast's dedication to helping industrial professionals share their stories and make a difference.