Occupy a Job!

Everyday it seems that a new movement is born and new location is deemed a place to occupy. Meanwhile, the revolutionaries who want to change the world by blaming others on their ills, sitting in the elements, screaming, making catchy signs, singing rap, kumbaya or whatever noise they are generating to gather all of media attention, evidently have forgotten the fact that the world needs hundreds of thousands of skilled workers.

Case in point, recently at the SMRP Jobfair in Greensboro, NC over 35 employers wanted to pay skilled workers a minimum of 15- 30 dollars per hour and had over 400 positions open only had 350 candidates to meet and most were not qualified for these opportunities.

At a time when we need more than ever a concentrated emphasis on building the next generation of skilled technicians, engineers to take over from the “geezer bust” generation, it appears that many are being distracted.

So I declare a real movement for positive change, let’s launch the Occupy a Job movement and let’s get maintenance pros and advocates to expose the unfilled opportunities that are begging for people, the future opportunities that will emerge as more retire, and most importantly, the millions of potential dollars saved by implementing proactive maintenance strategies.

Perhaps we don’t need to stand in the streets and run around with signs declaring that Maintenance is a Profit Contributor, Deferred Maintenance Costs Millions, Maintenance pros deserve RESPECT, Better to Prepare and Prevent than to Repair and Repent but all are true statements!

We need more of us to get in the MBA classrooms and share with future executives the value contribution of Maintenance and Reliability programs. So that in the future maintenance pros won’t have to beg permission to do their job but will be held accountable and given sufficient resources to deliver the profit potential.

The more we can share with the world that small amounts needed to invest in proactive maintenance performance compared with the millions in savings and cost avoidance the more our profession will earn credibility and respect. Then more future generations will perceive our profession as more than just a “glorified” janitor and the actual business leaders that we are.

So I challenge you to go ahead and not wait for permission and implement changes, like plugging compressed air leaks. Then after you begin to see results, be proud of your success and share with your colleagues, and keep on developing new strategies to save the company money by performing smart maintenance approaches. Goodyear for example saved over 800,000 in the last two years by plugging 3000 compressed air leaks. Imagine the results if every company delivered on that cost saving potential?

I also challenge you to visit your local community colleges and talk to the kids in a language they understand – show them your paycheck stubs and show them the financial opportunities available for skilled technicians. Amazing is the power that 30 dollars per hour opportunities have to keep focus them on developing the skills that our society is going to depend on.

I also challenge you to meet your local, state and national politicians and let them understand and appreciate the value contribution of maintenance. Then perhaps they will give us more input into future regulatory and policy decisions that affect us and maintenance performance.

I again challenge you to share your success with industry and even mainstream media outlets so that more will realize maintenance profit potential, support our industry growth development, and finally respect the special qualities needed to become a maintenance and reliability professional.

Feel free to send me your successes, challenges, issues and opportunities so I can help you at . I hope to see you and your colleagues in May at the next EUROMAINTENANCE Conference in Belgrade.

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