Every Plant Carries Critical Spares. But Do They?

Every plant carries critical spares. But do they?

That single point of failure part. The one part with no backup that takes the whole line down when it goes. You keep it on the shelf no matter the cost. Nobody argues with that.

Now walk down to the forming floor. The guy who's read those machines for years. No backup. Nobody else can do what he does.

That's a single point of failure. One of the most expensive in the building.

We protect the part that can fail. Not the man who keeps it from failing.
You can't overnight 30 years.

Well, you can. For about five years, that was my job. They flew me in when a plant needed help. The human spare part, overnight. I still do it, just on my own now.

It worked because there were enough of us to go around.

But these “parts” are running out.

Originally posted on LinkedIn. Join the conversation there.