Automation Insider: Achieving Operational Excellence

By Gary Mintchell, Executive Director

Since joining Applied Technology Publications and the Maintenance Technology team the first of September, I’ve been studying, talking with people and trying to anticipate where the industry is going so we can best serve all of our clients. You will see many improvements in the coming months as we work to update the style and content to make us even more relevant today.

The magazine itself will undergo a makeover, but the Website will, too. Website development takes some time, but in a few months, you’ll see a noticeable upgrade. First, we will be eliminating the URL mt-online.com in favor of maintenancetechnology.com. We will also improve user experience and update content daily with even more information to help you do your jobs better.

MARTS is back, but with a totally new format and focus—“achieving operational excellence through asset performance.” MARTS has always attracted decision-makers. Over 80 percent of 2013 attendees were managers, professionals and engineers with decision-making authority. The 2014 edition will build on the tradition of attracting the brightest minds in predictive maintenance by adding specific tracks for operational excellence and technology.

One track is designed to appeal specifically to maintenance and reliability professionals with discussions of predictive maintenance tools and management topics. Another is designed for plant managers and engineers with a focus on operations-management tips and strategies. We’ll also emphasize more of the latest automation, control and information technologies that directly impact reliability and operational excellence.

Register today to be part of the conversation about achieving operational excellence in your organization. Team registrations are welcome. Some of the topics already committed include:

• Total Productive Maintenance Made Easy and Affordable
• Asset Management: Understanding ISO 55000
• Gain Value from Planning
• Driving Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) For Business Results
• The Process Instrumentation Crisis
• What Key Performance Indicator to Use and When
• The Failure Effect
• Forensics of Electric Machines
• How We Won the North American Maintenance Excellence (NAME) Award
• Do Corporate Reliability Awards Help?
• Foreign Material Management
• Driving Contractor Performance
• Optimize Results Through a Culture of Excellence
• Next-Generation Asset Reliability Solutions

Two days of in-depth workshops (Tuesday and Friday) are also available. Choose from one or two of six offered. These eight-hour intensive sessions taught by industry leaders include the following topics: 

• Results-Oriented Reliability and Maintenance
• Understanding ISO 55000 For Improved Asset Management
• How to Develop a Culture of Excellence
• How to Base-line Your Maintenance System for Improved Productivity

Presenters include professionals from companies such as Eli Lilly, Jacobs Engineering, Syngenta Crop Protection, Haynes International, Mississippi Lime, Pennsylvania Power and Light, and Emergent BioSolutions.

I love conversations. Send a note any time. You can also find me on LinkedIn and follow me on Twitter at @garymintchell. Check out the Maintenance Technology group on LinkedIn—ask questions and participate. As our Website undergoes improvements, there will be increased opportunities for you to voice your opinions.MT

Gary Mintchell, gmintchell@atpnetwork.com, is Executive Director of Applied Technology Publications. He also writes at www.themanufacturingconnection.com.