Leadership’s role in preventing human-caused downtime
I’m often asked, “What is the single, most effective thing we as leaders can do to eliminate human-caused downtime?” My answer is that the leader must be the example and never the exception. I say that because leaders occupy a very special place in the sociology and group dynamics of an organization. Consequently, the degree to which their behavior is viewed, scrutinized, and mimicked is amplified, sometimes exponentially. Sir Isaac Newton explained that, in physics, for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. When it comes to human behavior, the idea is much the same except the reaction may not be equal or opposite. We are, after all, a little more complex than inanimate objects. The concept in human behavior that corresponds to this law of physics is: If you want to change behavior in an organization, the leadership of the organization must change their behavior. Perhaps an experience I had in the Navy would illustrate what I mean. I was initially stationed to a submarine that was in overhaul, being basically rebuilt in a shipyard. We were getting to the end of the overhaul and it was necessary to clean the ship to put it back to fighting condition. For those of you that are familiar with construction sites, you know that dirt and debris are everywhere. The same is true for a submarine during overhaul. We had a big cleaning job to do. My assignment was to clean the bilges in an area under the diesel generator, one of the worst areas. I had to put on coveralls, climb under the diesel into the bilges, and clean out all the debris and dirt. It was a miserable job, to say the least. I had a helper who climbed under the diesel with me to help out. We spent a good two hours working under the diesel and found ourselves even joking about the stuff we might find and whether it would be alive or …?...
Read MoreExpert opinions….
Notwithstanding the very serious nature of the work we do, the high standards we must maintain, and the responsibility we have to deliver services day in and day out, it’s good to enjoy the lighter side of life every so often. So this week, in recognition of the 126th celebration of Groundhog Day – hey, it’s as good as any to celebrate – I thought it fitting to look back at some notable expert opinions. According to legend, if Punxsutawney Phil comes out of his burrow on Gobbler’s Knob and sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter weather. Dubbed the Seer of Seers, the Prognosticator of Prognosticators, Punxsutawney Phil enjoys a perfect record of weather forecasting. While our ability to prognosticate as accurately may fall somewhat short of perfect, our predictions can sometimes prove just as legendary! I hope you enjoy…. “I think there’s a world market for maybe five computers.”...
Read MoreReliability-centered maintenance and data centers
Among the popular buzzwords bandied about in the data center industry today is Reliability-Centered Maintenance or RCM. The term is so prevalent in the industry’s marketing lexicon at this point that it’s hard to tell which companies really understand what it is – or how to do it. In fact, many people in the industry are unaware that there is a standard by which RCM practices are measured, and a governing body that sets the standard. Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM) is an engineering study conducted to determine the best course of action for maintaining a particular system or process. The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) defined the RCM process in their technical standard SAE JA1011, Evaluation Criteria for Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM) Processes (1998). The SAE standard sets out the minimum criteria that must be met before a process can legitimately be called RCM. The standard consists of seven questions that must be answered – and answered in this order – for the process to be called RCM:...
Read MoreRipple effects of lights-out data centers
One of the latest developments in the data center world is operating in a “lights-out” fashion. This operational model of data centers means simply operating with no on-site personnel. The model relies on having automated backup systems, redundant data-center assets and/or software to maintain the appearance of 100 percent uptime. The building itself is protected by its secret, unmarked location, by physical security, and by remote monitoring. So what do lights-out data centers mean to facilities? How does it affect operations and methods? What does it mean for our staffing models, spare parts inventories, maintenance programs, and training initiatives? Two Competing Philosophies: Since the data center operates without human presence (hence “lights out”), one of two strategies will emerge as the method for how to achieve the delivery of services: (1) Either the data center’s capability must be redundant within the overall content delivery/processing network (spare data centers) or (2) the data center itself must be constructed and engineered in such a manner that it is automatically robust enough to maintain services and operations for most all foreseeable events/situations....
Read MoreThe crucial role of the facilities manager in mission critical environments (part 2 of 2)
Last week I described my issues with how the most important roles and responsibilities of the facilities manager are not being addressed or supported by organizations. This week I look at these roles and responsibilities in more detail and offer my thoughts on how to ensure that your organization integrates them into its operation. To illustrate the problem, let’s look at the hiring process. It is a common experience to be hired into a company and find that the job description does not resemble the actual job duties. In fact, I have seen positions where the job description did not exist. Organizations that do not formalize these important roles and responsibilities through documentation risk hiring someone for the role who may not understand the true role, responsibilities, or priorities of their position. On the other hand, candidates who understand their roles and responsibilities correctly will encounter frustration if the organization doesn’t share their focus....
Read More
Follow Us!