Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1399684
10 | July - August 2021 | www . machinerylubrication.com COVER STORY Develop a Clear Communication Plan As a reliability or maintenance professional, you likely have a sense of the opportunities for improvement that exist within your plant. Perhaps you have identified a need for improved condition-monitoring technology such as ultrasound, thermography or oil analysis tools. You may see gaps in training or knowledge among your team that should be resolved. Perhaps you have become aware of new IIoT sensors that can provide an early alert to chronic problems relating to critical assets. No matter your goal, you will need to communicate the value proposition consistently and clearly. Finding stats and data that support your business case can be valuable when it's time to make a presentation, but your communica- tion plan should also include other points of contact. Here are a few tactics you can use to enhance communication with leadership and get initiative support: • Familiarize yourself with the language used by managers and decision-makers. Using their terms when presenting cases facil- itates clear communication of ideas. If their goals are defined in terms of Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) or Overall Equip- ment Effectiveness (OEE), your presentation should focus on these metrics. • Let them know what they stand to gain and how they will benefit from your initiative. Reliability initiatives can benefit several different areas of a company, so let the decision-makers know how your plan will specifically help their departments. • Be concise. Overly long proposals and examples will lead to weak- ened engagement and may be seen as a waste of time. • Explain how the money invested in your initiative will see returns. Projected Return on Investment (ROI) or improvements in Net Present Value (NPV) will speak to executives and other plant leaders. • Preload them with information. Sharing articles, whitepapers or case studies relating to your initiative on company social media, intranet or in email threads is a great way to keep your topic in front of decision-makers. en, when it comes time to pitch your improvements, those who have already been influenced by back- ground information and information from trusted outside sources will be more likely to understand and support your conclusions. Foster Relationships with Plant Leadership In addition to providing information in advance, it is important to form individual relationships with executives and leadership team members before making your pitch. Plant leadership is a busy crowd, so while it's not always possible to get their undivided attention, you should be prepared to take advantage of the opportunity when it is available. In addition to the communication methods discussed previously, you can find other ways to carve out some face time with stakeholders and decision-makers. Have an Elevator Pitch at the Ready Sometimes, running into an executive in the hallway or literally in an elevator might be a chance to take their temperature on an idea. If they ask you how things are going in your department, you should be ready to briefly describe your new initiative to gain some buy-in at that moment. Preparing an executive with some talking points outside of a conference room setting can help you determine who will be supportive on pitch day and who you may need to do some extra work to convince. Invite them to Lunch Studies have shown that eating a meal with someone can put them in a positive emotional state and make them more likely to make rapid decisions. ese two factors are a great advantage when building support for an initiative. Bringing someone to a quick lunch, whether at the office or offsite, can be a powerful tool to get their attention and put it to good use. Make a Case for Conference (and Bring Them with You) We lost the ability to have face time at conferences for most of 2020 and into 2021, but these days in-person conferences are back in full force. While getting to learn from experts, networking with industry leaders and meeting vendors (and their products) in person are all highly beneficial, do not forget about the time spent with your own leaders, peers and direct reports. Getting away from the office or plant can give you a chance to talk in a more relaxed environment and discuss new ideas in a fresh setting. Reliability-focused events can bring all types of communication together and act as a concentrated dose of information that shows what is possible when companies are committed to the right reliability initiatives.