Maintenance, Repair & Operations

Maintenance Resources Might Not Be as Limited as You Think

May 19, 2020

Consider using these free resources if your budget is tight

Sometimes, corporate executives who cannot tell a wire stripper from pump pliers publicly refer to maintenance as a “necessary evil.” They put less emphasis on the first part of that than they should. Consequently, maintenance budgets are often the first ones cut.

Ask 100 maintenance managers if they are working with overly tight limits on resources, and 98 of them will probably say yes.

That view of resources from the company is often correct. If you are resource-constrained, however, to what degree to you tap the vast resources available outside of your company? Consider these free ones:

Manufacturer websites. You can often find updates to recommended practices, maintenance guidance, and information on upgrading equipment to reduce required maintenance.
Webinars. These are often hosted by industry organizations and/or trade publications or trade organizations, so the focus is on usefulness to the attendees.
Trade publications. In addition to print, they have websites, newsletters, and podcasts that provide useful insight.

About the Author

Mark Lamendola

Mark is an expert in maintenance management, having racked up an impressive track record during his time working in the field. He also has extensive knowledge of, and practical expertise with, the National Electrical Code (NEC). Through his consulting business, he provides articles and training materials on electrical topics, specializing in making difficult subjects easy to understand and focusing on the practical aspects of electrical work.

Prior to starting his own business, Mark served as the Technical Editor on EC&M for six years, worked three years in nuclear maintenance, six years as a contract project engineer/project manager, three years as a systems engineer, and three years in plant maintenance management.

Mark earned an AAS degree from Rock Valley College, a BSEET from Columbia Pacific University, and an MBA from Lake Erie College. He’s also completed several related certifications over the years and even was formerly licensed as a Master Electrician. He is a Senior Member of the IEEE and past Chairman of the Kansas City Chapters of both the IEEE and the IEEE Computer Society. Mark also served as the program director for, a board member of, and webmaster of, the Midwest Chapter of the 7x24 Exchange. He has also held memberships with the following organizations: NETA, NFPA, International Association of Webmasters, and Institute of Certified Professional Managers.