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  • 1.  Reliability Starts with People, Not Technology

    Posted 6 days ago

    After more than a decade working in projects, maintenance, and operations, I've learned that reliability is rarely a technology problem.

    Most organizations already have procedures, software, KPIs, maintenance plans, and technical standards. Yet many still struggle with recurring failures, schedule deviations, and unplanned downtime.

    In my experience, the difference often comes down to people.

    Reliability begins when operators, technicians, planners, engineers, supervisors, and managers share the same objective and understand how their daily decisions impact asset performance. The best maintenance strategies I've seen were not necessarily the most sophisticated-they were the ones supported by strong communication, discipline, accountability, and teamwork.

    As our industry continues to adopt new technologies, predictive analytics, and digital tools, I believe we should continue asking ourselves a simple question:

    What has had the greatest impact on reliability in your organization: technology, processes, or people?

    I would be interested in hearing your perspective and experiences.



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    Christian Vegas Mori
    Supervisor de Programación de Mantenimiento
    OIG Peru
    El Alto
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  • 2.  RE: Reliability Starts with People, Not Technology

    Posted 5 days ago

    Couldn't agree more. Processes and Procedures only work when they become Practices. What converts them from one to the other? People!



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    Paul Hilford
    Asset Management & Equipment Reliability Consultant
    JACOBS
    Houston TX
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  • 3.  RE: Reliability Starts with People, Not Technology

    Posted 4 days ago

    Well said!

    Even though we want to find systemic issues in any failure investigation, It's people who make or mar the system!

     

    Regards.

    Amit Deshpande

    Lead Rotating Equipment Engineer

    Celanese Singapore


    General Business Information




    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Reliability Starts with People, Not Technology

    Posted 3 days ago


    Dear Christian,

    Thank you for sharing this perspective - it resonates strongly with what I experience daily in power generation and heavy industry.

    You've touched on something fundamental that often gets overlooked in our field: we over-invest in systems and under-invest in people. I've seen plants with world-class CMMS, SCADA, and predictive tools still suffering chronic failures - not because the technology failed, but because the human layer wasn't aligned.

    In my view, the three elements you mentioned - technology, processes, and people - form a triangle, and reliability collapses when any corner is weak. But if I had to rank their impact from field experience:

    1. People first - A skilled, accountable technician with basic tools will outperform a disengaged one with the best diagnostic software. Ownership mentality is irreplaceable.

    2. Processes second - Strong SOPs, disciplined PM execution, and clear work order workflows are what convert people's effort into consistent results. Without structure, even talented teams drift.

    3. Technology third - Technology amplifies both strengths and weaknesses. It's a force multiplier, not a foundation.

    What I've found particularly critical is the alignment between operators and maintenance teams - when operations sees reliability as their problem too, not just maintenance's, the whole system shifts.

    I would be very interested to hear how you approach this cultural alignment in your operations at OIG Peru, especially in a remote mining environment like El Alto.

    Best regards,

    Ahmed Mahrous
    Senior Reliability & Maintenance Technician | CMRT
    Sukari Gold Mine - Power Generation
    SMRP Member




    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Reliability Starts with People, Not Technology

    Posted 4 days ago

    This is very true and a tool is only as good as its user. In the field, bad data is just as dangerous as no data. Having advanced tools is meaningless without proper field execution, as flawed data is just as detrimental as a complete lack of information.  (communication, discipline, accountability, and teamwork) make the dream work



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    Paul Boykin
    Reliability Supervisor
    Corinth MS
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