August 28, 2008
Maintenance Fallacy #9
If a company continues to strive to “Optimize Reliability” they will reach it one day by going in the wrong direction.
This is a belief that stands in the way of making real progress in Reliability. It is impossible when one does not use a strategic approach with planning that includes identifying both financial and reliability targets. This plan must be carefully and deliberately thought out and have someone on the team who has led a company down this path with success before and was not just a member of the crew.
Think of Christopher Columbus the great explorer who was looking for the Far East and its riches. Did he ever miss the target or what! However, he made many attempts to find the way to the Far East even though no Captain in his fleet had been their before. He spent his lifetime believing that he could reach the Far East but never realized that dream. In the end, his men lacked confidence in him and his vision.
This is not too dissimilar to what happens within most companies on their Reliability Journey. After numerous voyages to be “proactive” they end up back where they started, with a diminished confidence within the ranks that this can ever reach a favorable outcome. In the end it remains “reactive” and they sit scratching their heads and wonder how could this have happened to them.
Remember: The definition of insanity is continuing to do the same things over and over again expecting a different result. Do not let this happen to you.
Tip provided by Ricky Smith, CMRP
Allied Reliability
http://www.alliedreliability.com
Attend Ricky Smith’s KPI Workshop at PdM-2008
