Monday morning quarterbacks have the advantage of being able to view video and think about things, rather than having to make a split-second decision in the moment. Does your maintenance department enjoy that same advantage?
Periodically record a video of a repair, preferably one that is costly or performed frequently. Before doing that, design a process for how to “process” the viewing of the video to identify real problems. One point of the video is to help the individual technician improve his performance, but a much bigger point is to improve the environment in which that performance takes place.
You might notice that Bob uses an adjustable wrench but slips because the jaws face the wrong direction. Nobody noticed before, but now Bob knows how to use that tool better. In the same video, Bob pauses at the fifth step in the procedure. Speaking to the camera, Bob reads the step. Bob must stop and think about what is really meant. He comes to the correct decision, but notes how another interpretation could be made and what would happen in that case.
The video shows Bob getting a spare part that isn't serviceable, because of storage errors. He spends several minutes finding a good spare part.
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.