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The Maintenance Manager Development Program is a 10-week, 50-hour development program designed for current and future maintenance managers who want to strengthen both their leadership and maintenance management capabilities. Through live online training, coaching, and mentoring, participants work on practical areas including preventive maintenance development, planning and scheduling, performance metrics, budgeting, team development, problem solving and decision making, commu

Why I Hire for Character Before Maintenance Skill Throughout my career, I developed a hiring philosophy that occasionally surprised some people. There were times when I passed on candidates with exceptional technical skills because they lacked the character traits I believed were essential. I also hired less-experienced candidates because they demonstrated the mindset, attitude, and potential I wanted. It did not mean they were not good people. I just have always looked for

Every maintenance department seems to have one. The technician who knows every machine, every recurring failure, every spare part location, and every trick for getting equipment back online. Ask them a question, and they have the answer before you've finished asking it. I call these individuals Walking Encyclopedias. They are one of the most valuable assets a company can have. But they also represent one of the greatest risks. When maintenance knowledge exists only in one per

Every maintenance department has more work than available time. Equipment failures, preventive maintenance, improvement projects, and unexpected requests all compete for attention. Even with a robust CMMS, an effective work request process, and a well-developed scheduling system, maintenance technicians still need clear Rules of Engagement. Software can organize work orders, but it can't always determine what should take priority at that moment. That's where Rules of Engageme

For many organizations, implementing preventive maintenance feels like a major step forward. Instead of waiting for equipment to fail, maintenance teams begin scheduling routine inspections, lubrication, and basic upkeep. There is more structure, more organization, and often fewer breakdowns. Whether in manufacturing, hospitals, universities, or refineries, this shift creates the sense that maintenance is becoming more controlled and effective. As I have watched maintenance

I realize I have written about this before, but those who know me well I do believe in re-iterating important value. The idea that you become the average of the five people you spend the most time with is not new. It has been echoed across books, talks, and social media feeds. I made it a pillar in my Paint It Red Decision-Making Philosophy due to its overwhelming influence on our decision-making process. But with Same Problems, Same Opportunities releasing next week, I wan

Excerpts from Same Problems, Same Opportunities: Why Leadership Still Matters Coming Dec 18th, Routledge/CRC Press The Process-People-Product model isn’t limited to business, leadership teams, or corporate offices. You can see it play out almost anywhere. The same principles that stabilize operations in a company can bring order and growth to everyday life. When processes are clear, people thrive, and the product (output, learning, or confidence) becomes the natural resu

Same Problems. Same Opportunities. New Book Launches December 18. Click to Pre-Order Written by Chris Ortiz, a seasoned business coach, leadership mentor, and Shingo Prize-winning author with over 25 years of experience transforming teams and organizations across industries. The challenges leaders face today aren’t new. Missed targets. High turnover. Broken improvement efforts. They show up in every industry and every company. What is different is how some leaders respond an

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Breaking Through – A New E-Book and Audiobook That Transforms How You Decide BREAKING THROUGH: A Blueprint for Smarter Choices and...

Every problem you face gives you three choices. React, Respond, or Reflect. Each carries a different cost, different timing, and a...

I have a saying I’ve used for years. One that sometimes annoys people because it seems too simple, too obvious. But others appreciate it...

In today's fast-paced world, the foundational elements of success; time and failure, are often overlooked. We live in an era of quick...

I am an industrial engineer by trade, and in my field, we are trained to break down complexities into manageable parts, streamline...

A process, at its core, is more than just a series of steps, it’s the foundation for consistency and efficiency. Here is my definition of...

The Rake Theory illustrates how individuals often create their own obstacles, akin to stepping on a rake that snaps up and hits them...

Effective maintenance leaders recognizes that their role extends beyond technical oversight but to include team development,...