The mindset of the maintenance manager and his team has a great impact on the success of the maintenance function of an industrial site.
A successful maintenance program is more than just the sum of its parts; it hinges on the mindset and culture within the maintenance team:
- Proactive vs. Reactive: A proactive mindset helps to anticipate potential problems and address them before they lead to failures. Encouraging this mindset across the team promotes an environment where long-term equipment health is prioritized over quick fixes.
- Continuous Improvement Culture: Maintenance teams that embrace continuous learning and improvement are better equipped to adapt to new technologies and challenges. This involves training programs, sharing best practices, and learning from past incidents to refine approaches.
- Collaboration and Communication: The maintenance team should not operate in isolation. Strong communication between operators, engineers, and maintenance staff fosters shared responsibility and ensures that the right information flows to the right people.
Changing the mindset within a maintenance department starts with leadership. Maintenance managers must set an example by showing commitment to professional development, adopting new strategies, and valuing input from all team members.
After a 2009 Colgan Air crash, the US Federal Aviation Administration raised the requirements for an ATPcertificate from 250 hours to a whopping 1,500 hours of training.
