Last week I led a workshop for the VIK (Flemisch Chamber of Engineers http://www.vik.be/ ) about the priorities of the Maintenance Manager during the economical Crisis.
First the board members of our group explained how they prioritize their activities, it was amazing how it differ from between different industry segments. (It's obvisious clear that chemical companies in Antwerp harder suffer under the crisis than e.g. food factories)
Even they both are different impacted by the crisis their priority is almost completly cost and compliance driven. The urgency of the short term thinking overrule complete the importance of Life cycle Cost.
First the board members of our group explained how they prioritize their activities, it was amazing how it differ from between different industry segments. (It's obvisious clear that chemical companies in Antwerp harder suffer under the crisis than e.g. food factories)
Even they both are different impacted by the crisis their priority is almost completly cost and compliance driven. The urgency of the short term thinking overrule complete the importance of Life cycle Cost.
Remarkable : A supplier told us that the turnover of Maintenance Tools decreased with almost 40 % but the Turnaover of MRO goods (bearings,drives ...) only decreased with 8%.
Afterwards we discussed with the attendantes with the round-table principle (http://www.theworldcafe.com/) what we could learn from eachother.
I learned that due to this crisis most companies are increasing contract labor so own people can execute these task. By doing this kind of task own maintenance people become more flexible but also more general skilled tradepeople, so after a while they need external maintenance specialists to execute high skilled work.So by reducing external workers you generate extra work for external people !
this was is a nutshell a overview of our workshop
regards
Werner Van Acker
