Article4 min read Sep 15, 2025You’re Not Too Busy—You’re Just DistractedMaintenance leaders often struggle with reliability improvement initiatives that fail to deliver results despite extensive planning and documentation efforts. IDCON's experience at a New York paper mill reveals a critical insight: focusing solely on system documentation without prioritizing actual inspections and repairs leads to zero operational improvements. Successful maintenance improvement requires laser focus on two core goals, preventing equipment failures and enabling faster, safer, higher-quality repairs. The key lies in maintaining an unbroken chain connecting quality inspections, effective planning, proper scheduling, and skilled execution. For mid-career professionals managing teams while driving results, this approach ensures maintenance initiatives translate into measurable ROI and operational excellence rather than wasted consultant fees and missed opportunities.
Article5 min read Mar 23, 2023Choosing a Maintenance MethodIn terms of Maintenance Methods, there are three choices for existing equipment. They are Operate to Breakdown, Fixed Time Maintenance, and Condition Based Maintenance. Operate to Breakdown: The equipment is run until it breaks down. Fixed Time Maintenance: The replacement of parts or equipment on a fixed/scheduled frequency. Condition Based Maintenance: The problem is found and fixed at the time when it is discovered. It is a common assumption that Condition Based Maintenance is always the most cost effective. While this is commonly the case, it is not always true.
