How Should I Start?

This morning, I was swimming and I was thinking about a question that I get asked frequently.  The question goes like this:

Rob, my facility is very reactive, how do I start my reliability program?

Having a water polo background is something I rely on when I embark on new projects.  I didn’t become a better swimmer by reading, watching YouTube videos or planning to become the best swimmer.  I got better at swimming by swimming.  I don’t discount the value of a coach, teammates or a plan (I had a coach and a team) but at the end of the day, you need to start.

How does that apply to reliability?

There are many ways to start.  You can buy an ultrasound probe and fix compressed air leaks.  You can buy an infrared camera and look for electrical faults.  You can dig through your CMMS data, determine your bad actors and work on those.  You can talk to your mechanics & operators and solve their biggest problems.

All of those (and by no means is that an exhaustive list), will add value to your plant and get you started on your reliability journey.  Pick something that you have the capacity and resources (people, budget, tools, etc.) to do and go execute.

So, what should I do?

Get started, add value, talk about your wins and the people who helped you get those wins, learn, improve and repeat. 

The first step is starting.  Put your swimsuit on and jump in the pool.