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Thinking Differently About Maintenance

May 31, 2021
Identify your key maintenance paradigm, and then choose a different one.

What is your maintenance paradigm? Do you see the primary function of maintenance as:

  • Keeping equipment running?
  • Optimizing key equipment?
  • Performing PMs and responding to breakdowns?
  • Preventing breakdowns through predictive technology and best practices?
  • Maintaining the flow of product out the door?
  • Serving the needs of the production department?

Chances are your view is based predominantly on one of these. Whichever one it is, it determines how you proceed with everyday maintenance functions. There is no wrong choice, but your thinking can be too narrow unless you consider the other choices.

If you are a maintenance manager, it is good for you and your team to identify your paradigm. Then pick a different one and think about how your implementation would change. Would you do more PMs? Fewer? Simpler ones? What other work would change, and what would be the effects?

Try a pilot program of bringing some of the changes into how you do maintenance, and then measure the results.

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.

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