The Makings of a Great Maintenance Manager
by Shawn Furman
Advanced Manufacturing Technology
Strategy Manager
Many Maintenance Managers have mechanical and electrical aptitude, but that does not make them great or even good Maintenance Managers. On the flip side, a great or good Maintenance Manager must possess some knowledge about electrical and mechanical systems, and not rely on leadership alone. Looking back on my time as a Maintenance Manager, the following characteristics helped the team succeed, and I assume in turn, made me a “great” Maintenance Manager. At least, that’s what I was told!
Shawn Furman
Listen to your team. Maintenance Teams love to share their thoughts, so shut the door and let them vent their frustrations or share their thoughts. Even if you don’t agree with what he/she/they are saying let them air their grievances. Most importantly, this is an opportunity to build trust between you and your team. Use these closed-door conversations to recognize development opportunities and areas of conflict where you may need to step in to smooth things over.
Realize your customers (production, utilities, warehouse, etc.) aren’t going to hand you the time you want to maintain equipment on a silver platter. The sooner you recognize that, the sooner you can start developing plans that work for everyone. The best way to do this is by proposing a plan that includes what exactly it is you are planning to do, why it is important, and how long it will take. Showing the customer that you’ve put time and energy into this will be well received and a good starting point for a discussion of how to schedule with minimal risk and disruption.
Keep a focus on preventative & predictive maintenance. Remember, you’ve been hired to manage a team that maintains equipment, not to fight fires. This can be as simple as periodic inspections to determine when there’s a need to service equipment. Taking this proactive approach to keep equipment running will make everyone’s life at work better.
Be open to new technology and methods. The field of maintenance is constantly evolving with advancements in technology. Start small, and don’t go crazy spending your budget on expensive tools or systems that are nice-to-haves. Pick the most critical equipment in the facility and monitor temperature, vibration or any other indicators that can be monitored to predict a pending failure.
Lastly, say “Thank you.” The role of Maintenance Manager is often called a thankless job, which often trickles down to the Maintenance Team, so tell your team thank you when they’re out there maintaining equipment or working on the rare major breakdown. They will appreciate it more than you think.
About the Author
For questions or a free consultation, you may contact Shawn Furman, Advanced Manufacturing Technology Strategy Manager at (610) 737-2529 or email him at shawn.furman@mrcpa.org
For more on implementing an effective maintenance program explore these programs offered by MRC: Maintenace Program or Intro to PM and PdM,