Those who no longer stand up for what is right have plenty of company. Like dead fish, they swim downstream, in accordance with the tide. Their sense of self-preservation takes over, and their consciences become dulled. I’ve seen this in the reliability field, and you may have, too: where people whose sense of self-preservation trumps their sense of self-esteem, or even their sense of professional ethics.
A person with an excessive sense of self-preservation will always side with “the boss,” since not doing so could be career-ending. In contrast, reliability professionals who have cultivated a balanced view are much more likely to take a stand for what is right than those who, regardless of the issue, always agree with “the boss,” primarily because he or she is “the boss.”
As a matter of principle, professionals with a balanced view believe in the good in people. But unless they find a protector, meaning a manager who encourages and rewards competence and candor, even those who believe in the good in people may occasionally become disillusioned.
When disillusionment becomes the norm, it may be time to consider changing jobs. If so, focus on potential employers who value you for being a professional with a balanced view. Explain that your goal has been to seek out and submit facts, not merely put forth opinions. Adjust your expectations; realize that if you have low expectations of the world around you, you will never be disappointed. Accept the fact that common sense is in short supply and see, from the following example, where the world is going.
This example relates to a recent Request for Bids (RFB) from investors in grass-roots petrochemical plants. The group was looking for contractors to provide “Operations Procedures Development and Technical Writing Services.”
The winning contractor was to have a proven track record that clearly demonstrated the experience and qualifications required to perform the requested services. Regrettably, the RFB was (perhaps inadvertently) phrased to exclude experts in equipment-failure avoidance and, thus, was (perhaps unintentionally), attracting generalist bidders.
Input from generalists is likely to create plants that meet projected low-cost budgets and optimistic commissioning schedules. Sounds good. On the other hand, the reliability goals desired by the owner/operator are not likely to be met. Instead, an experienced reliability professional’s worst fears will be realized: high maintenance costs, relatively low availability (uptime), safety compromises, and lots of finger pointing. Welcome to the real world.
In the end, I say “stick with self-esteem.”TRR
EDITOR’S NOTE:
For sources of suggested reading on
reliability topics and best practices,
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for a list of Heinz Bloch’s 22 books.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Heinz Bloch’s long professional career included assignments as Exxon Chemical’s Regional Machinery Specialist for the United States. A recognized subject-matter-expert on plant equipment and failure avoidance, he is the author of numerous books and articles, and continues to present at technical conferences around the world. Bloch holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering and is an ASME Life Fellow. These days, he’s based near Houston, TX. Email him directly at [email protected].
Tags: reliability, availability, maintenance, professional development
