Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1206285
46 | January - February 2020 | www . machinerylubrication.com biggest challenges is breaking down depart- mental policies or habits in favor of new ones that provide more agility and machinery uptime. is is where you will hear talk about a culture change. Hands-on practitioners are engaged with managers to transform the organization's program to world-class status. Hiring third-party consultants and earning certifications may or may not occur in this stage, but both would certainly accelerate progress through stage 3. Stage 4: The New Normal At the stage of unconscious competence, all stakeholder groups are on the same page with high expectations for maintaining new KPIs and new levels of machine reliability that meet business goals. All practitioners, ma na gers a nd suppliers recognize t he big-picture relevance of new lubrication and oil analysis activities. Old habits are no longer a source of friction. e organization understands there is no value in scaling back on any of the changes, because they have verified ROI (e.g., lower expenses, greater uptime, etc.). Achieving stage 4 as an organization doesn't mean that every part of the lubrication program comes effortlessly to every individual on the team. What it does mean is that institu- tional resistance to change has ceased and that organizational expectations and capabilities are naturally elevated. Checklists and formal procedures are still necessary to ensure consis- tency, especially as new hires go through their own individual stages of competence to get up to speed with the team. Continuing education and certifications are common here, but such activities only occasion- ally cycle individuals — not entire organizations — back through the stages for specific aspects of the lubrication program. However, over time, the sustained presence of certified practitioners and managers mitigates erosion of an organiza- tion's stage 4 competence. Organizations in this stage set the curve for world-class competition. ese are the plants that normally submit applications to the Inter- national Council for Machinery Lubrication (ICML) for the annual Gill and Battle awards. To read stories about successful lubrication and oil analysis programs, visit the ICML website at lubecouncil.org. In Which Stage Is Your Program? It is no simple undertaking to adopt and embrace lubrication and oil analysis improvements for your organization while simultaneously pursuing and earning profes- sional certifications for yourself and your crew. If you are trying to develop a facili- ty-wide lubrication program, it is important to determine where your colleagues are — and where your organization is — within the four stages of competence. As a leader, your job is to accelerate through the stages as quickly as possible so both your team and plant can soon become unconsciously competent and reap the benefits of lubrication excellence. ML