Episode Details

Overview

Scott Mackenzie from Industrial Talk interviews Tara Holwegner at the SMRP conference, highlighting IRISS electrical maintenance safety technologies and Lifecycle Engineering's 20-year history in training industrial professionals. Tara discusses the importance of upskilling, reskilling, and training, noting that 25% of respondents to her poll prioritize these issues. She emphasizes the need for a balanced approach to people, process, and technology. Tara also promotes Lifecycle Engineering's Smarter Playbook, which offers resources in five languages and six work streams, aiming to standardize best practices in maintenance and reliability.

Outline

Introduction and Welcome to Industrial Talk Podcast

• Scott Mackenzie introduces himself and the Industrial Talk podcast, emphasizing its focus on industry professionals and innovations.
• Scott welcomes listeners to the podcast, highlighting the importance of celebrating industry professionals.
• Scott mentions being at the SMRP conference and introduces Tara Holwegner, a recurring guest on the podcast.
• Tara expresses her excitement about being back at the SMRP conference and shares her background with Lifecycle Engineering.

Tara's Background and Lifecycle Engineering

• Tara explains her role at Lifecycle Engineering, an engineering, maintenance, and reliability consulting firm.
• She mentions the Lifecycle Institute, which has been training industrial professionals for 20 years.
• Tara shares her certifications: CMRP, CRO, PMP, and her role as a certified instructional designer.
• She discusses the importance of building products and services to help professionals reach their full potential in the industry.

Challenges and Focus Areas for 2025

• Tara shares the results of a poll she conducted about the challenges and struggles professionals will face in the new year.
• The poll results indicate that upskilling, reskilling, or training is a significant concern for 25% of respondents.
• Standard work and process optimization, technology additions, and CMMS data integrity are also key areas of focus.
• Scott and Tara discuss the importance of addressing these challenges to improve reliability and efficiency in the industry.

Importance of People, Process, and Technology

• Scott and Tara emphasize the need to focus on people, process, and technology to achieve reliable operations.
• Tara highlights the importance of getting the people and processes right before implementing technology.
• They discuss the role of technology in attracting new talent and the need for public-private partnerships to build interest in the industry.
• Scott and Tara agree on the importance of storytelling to inspire the next generation of industry professionals.

Lifecycle Engineering's Smarter Playbook

• Tara introduces the Lifecycle Engineering Smarter Playbook, which provides best practices for maintenance and reliability.
• The playbook includes resources in five languages and covers six work streams with over 400 online resources.
• Tara mentions the expansion of the playbook to include eight online courses by the end of the year.
• She explains the playbook's role in helping organizations understand the value of reliable operations and standard work.

Operational Readiness and Capital Projects

• Tara discusses the importance of operational readiness, especially for organizations undertaking large-scale capital project