When the word Maintenance is used in most Companies, most people assume that this means Engineers, Mechanics or Electricians only. In reality, this assumption is a long way from what Effective Maintenance is really about! Most shopfloor Operators working regularly with machinery are capable with a little basic training of becoming proficient in understanding certain Maintenance skills.

Most experienced Operators understand how their particular machine works, but are they thinking about Maintenance? and How important their contribution is? probably not.

The reason for not thinking about Maintenance is purely lack of understanding and training.

The first thing to consider is How much time and effort would you be prepared to invest in your Operators to educate them in basic Maintenance activities?

Secondly What are the benefits of upskilling the Operators?

Basic Maintenance Skills

1. Cleaning - Train people to Inspect as they clean, educate them on what defects are

2. Senses - Explain how to detect problems by using their senses, Touch,Smell,Look,Listen and even taste

3. Lubrication - Train people to lubricate, explain the importance of lubrication

The advantages of having a workforce that understands the term Maintenance and how everyone has a role to play are as follows:

1. Highly skilled Engineers and Electricians see a reduction in breakdowns, therefore it allows them more time to concentarte on Preventative and Preditive Maintenance

2. Operators start to own the machines as opposed to just running them

3. Efficiencies increase with minimum investment

Effective Maintenance is only achieved by involving everyone, it has to be a team effort. Having a well developed Maintenance strategy is key to successful manufacturing.

Sept 7, 2011 -  Said Agil Baaghil will be signing his book, "The Power of Belonging" today from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00pm @ Machias campus Power Hall of the University of Maine. So if you live in Maine you should go, it is worth while to meet the man.

We are here ending another year and going into the second decade of the 21st century. The world still faces uncertainty in terms of economic stability, political leadership and social wellbeing. We are in a position where terrorist threats are ever present, our leaders in the leading industrial nations are reluctant to make tough decisions and people are increasingly looking for security in their jobs and providing for their families. We've also had an unprecedented year of climate change effects and natural disasters. Right now Europe is in the grip of a winter like no other and is losing billions due to transport chaos. It took me personally two days to get from London to Munich and then a further - almost- twenty fours to get from London to South Carolina.

So what are we to do? No matter where you or what tough times you are having, there is always someone who is in a needier or desperate position. Someone somewhere is struggling and during this time of the year you may be faced with situations where someone could do with a helping hand, a lift by car getting them closer to their destination, money to help someone buy some food, contributing to keep a family housed. It is during our toughest times that we can extend our hands and help our fellow man. Helping in our community or half-way across the world, is help, and if we band together it is one step closer to creating a better and prosperous world.

On this note I would like to wish all my colleagues, friends, family, clients and strangers who I have briefly touched or been touched by a very Merry Christmas, seasons greetings and a prosperous New Year.

Shah Alam

It's amazing how many companies lack leadership, it is prevalent all over the world. Leadership could simply mean making a decision to empower people. Leadership could be a simple matter of communicating strategy. However, when decisions are not made nor a vision provided then people become disillusioned. One of the symptoms is the start of the infamous rumour mills, gossips fly like arrows, mid-level managers take initiatives themselves to do something, communicate anything. This creates confusion , empire building, job protectionism and eventually the good apples leave.

When you see this happening first hand it makes you cringe. Does lack of leadership mean someone is unable to make a decision or are they fearful of their decision?

Fear is an unfounded emotion, and a common acronym for it is False Expectations Appearing Real.

A true leader would make a decision, announce a way forward and live with the consequences. A true leader would allay the fears of his people, guiding them through the bad time and bring them out the other end. A true leader would believe in management by walking the floors, talking to the people, encouraging debate, creativity and action. A true leader would encourage further development of his people through training and continuous learning.

These are some actions a leader would consider and apply, however it is sad when people cry out for leadership but do not get it. What does this cost in wasted resources and potential lost revenues.

Leadership can make or break a business, so if you are a leader what are you going to do different today to make a difference in your organisation?

Shah Alam

Good afternoon all,

When was the last time you took a really good look at yourself? When was the last time you asked yourself what value do I add to what I do? Am I the best that I can be? Am I the person who people look up to or do they avoid me like the plague?

You may be asking why should you ask these questions of yourself and what is the purpose? Well, my point is that I do not believe many of us receive feedback on a regular basis from our colleagues, peers and managers. Feedback that would allow us to grow and become excellent at what we do and who we are when we interact with people. I believe in the continual growth and without feedback and self-reflection growth is stunted.

Many people believe that they are the "dogs bollocks", and English expression exemplifying brilliance at whatever the subject matter at hand. This type of egotistical thinking can and does lead to lethargy, arrogance and the ultimately failure. Many people are scared to provide feedback even in a constructive way for fear of seen to be critical and hurting someone's feelings. Most of us do not even ask for feedback and in the event that we do get it we become defensive and start arguing with the person providing the feedback. What this does is that the provider of feedback will not be so willing to do so in the future.

Self reflection is another methodology that can be utilized to see where were are compared to where we think we are. To continually grow we must change and to change we must step out of the excessively used cliche of a box and look from without to what is happening within. So when we stand there looking within it may be also beneficial to ask a trusted colleague to look in with you and give you some critical feedback. Questions like, what could I have done differently? What could I have done better? Did I get the result I wanted? If not what could I do differently next time?

Whilst you ask these questions your companion could also interject with thoughts of their own that could add a different perspective. It takes a very big person to be able to do this on a continuous basis, and the bigger a person becomes the more self reflection they need to step up to the next level. Don't get me wrong most people are not up for this challenge, even though they lack no resources to become the best at what they do.

In my opinion everyone has the capacity to draw from within strength, resources, creativity to excel at their vocation and become a true leader, but many fail to do so, and most of them fail because they do not recognize where they go wrong and take corrective action. Corrective action usually comes to late in the form of getting fired or not being hired, losing friends, colleagues and supporters in the process.

Shah Alam

Hey Readers,

What makes you see red? What are the things that really get up your nose and make you lose control? Well I had one of my 'red' moments over the weekend. I had been away for two weeks and I had left my car parked in my private parking space. Let me emphasise 'private', the parking spot is part of the land belonging to my property.

On Friday night I get a taxi in from London City Airport and when I get home I find a car blocking access onto the street for my car. I decide I will stay calm and hopefully the car will be moved. Following morning the car is still there, so I stick a notice on the offenders car windscreen stating "move the car or it will be towed". By 12 noon the car was still there and I really needed to get out and run some errands. I called my brother to see if I could move my car out through a gap between the offending car and another parked car. As my brother arrived in his car I walked over to my parked car and the offending vehicle owner was there. The first thing he said to me was "Did you put this note on my car?" I said yes and explained to him why. He retorted that I should be nice when I speak to him.

I immediately saw red. Firstly, this guy had blocked my parking space on several occassions before and plus he was committing the violation yet asks me to be nice. I continued to explain to him that my space was my property and that the space was marked in white lettering as 'PRIVATE'.

Eventually he moved his car and I drove off.

Upon reflection when I calmed down I realised that I should have stayed calm and made my point more objectively. Even though my incident did not become ugly, how often does it become so?

I then thought how often do we 'lose our rag' in business and professional circumstances where it costs money, hurts people and does long term damage. Upon further reflection I realised that I should be more of a 'peacemaker' and a 'builder of bridges' and relationships. Success comes from who you know, because potentially you can be providing a service or a product to anyone and everyone.

People can open doors or slam them shut, people can make or break your product, people can talk ill of you or praise you.

So when you see red next, what are you going to do? I know what I am going to try and do.

Shah Alam

Hi Readers,

There I was on a weekend trip to the island of Mallorca in the Mediterranean. I was super prepared travelling with a carry-on that contained my sandals, shorts, jeans, fresh underwear and toiletries all adhering to current global airport security requirements.

I checked in online to save the hassle of doing so at the airport, which in this case was Munich, Germany. My flight was via Barcelona, Spain with a two hour layover and then onto Palma De Mallorca.

At Munich the security was as expected, with belt off, watch off, jacket off, laptop out and walk through the scanner. No beeping so all clear and my possessions were kosher too.

However, I was only asked to show my boarding pass to the attendant at the x-ray machine but no passport. I boarded the plane with only the boarding card being scanned with no requirement for the passport.

At Barcelona airport I wandered around the retail malls of the airport and took some refreshments before boarding the flight to my final destination. Again no passport or ID card required only my boarding card. Having only carry-on luggage I walked straight out of the airport in Palma again without any border control.

Having had a wonderful, albeit short weekend on this sunny isle I departed back for Munich. At Palma the only person who looked at my passport was the check-in attendant. At the security checkpoint only my boarding card was requested but my 100ml liquids bag was not checked or required to be out of my carry-on bag. I boarded the plane with only my boarding card being requested.

My return journey was via Madrid Barajas which in my view is a horrible airport for a capital city. The flight from Palma was delayed and thus I had less than an hour to get to my Munich flight. However, in Palma they could not give me a boarding card for the Munich leg.

At Barajas I run to my gate for Munich but the flight is delayed arriving due to Spanish air traffic controllers strike - again. I am told by an attendant that I need to go out and check in to get my boarding card.

I walk out of the departure gates to check-in and get my boarding card (passport shown) and walk right through security without any further need for my passport. The next time I show my passport is at the car rental company in Munich airport.

My story just shows the total lack of security consciousness at European airports, especially when both Germany and Spain have experienced terrorist acts in the past. I could have been anyone and my 100ml liquid containers could have been used improperly.

So my question is, how secure are your business premises, property and people? At the end of the day airports and airlines are businesses. Currently, I believe the security approach at airports is topsy-turvy and a major re-think needs to be executed to offer safe, speedy and comfortable transition for passengers.

I believe security consulting will be a major area where expertise will be required and growth in the future. This is itself will create jobs and opportunities making airports and airlines even bigger employers around the world.

Shah

You know how the saying goes 'out with the old and in with the new'. Well it is a dilemma that is being faced by many organizations as the Baby Boomer generation ages and the Gen X and Gen Y'ers and the Facebook generation enter the workforce. Many a Baby Boomer is uncomfortable with the fast paced, technology driven younger generation snapping at their heels. I see many a clash where the old are being usurped and surpassed by the younger contemporaries.

Should the elders move aside and make way for the energized yeunglings? Well it is and always be a case of debate. Over the last few years I have come across clients whose common phrase has been speed. Speed with quality in all they do and deliver. With instanteous market news and exposure speed is something sought by consumer and supplier alike.

Recently I came across an article where a typical Middle Eastern consulting client wants a project to be delivered in half the usual time taken. I hear constantly here about speed of implementation and integration.

This is an area where there are major clashes between the generations. The wisdom of age and having been through it is denounced in favor of rapid change. The older generation feel that the new generation can do nothing but make mistakes, lose time and re-invent the wheel.

There is great value to be had from people with experience and years under their belt, as mentors, coaches and knowledge bases. yet we must not deny the energy and drive coming from the young stars fo tomorrow.

Shah Alam