SkillTV

Where are we going to get more Willards?

2011-03-30T11:58:00.006-04:00

It is with great sadness that SkillTV reports the passing of Willard Moore. He received the first ever SkillTV FIXIT Forward Lifetime Achievement Award for his longtime dedication to educating future generations of the importance engineering, how to use steam engines. We understand that a Willard Moore Memorial Scholarship fund is in the works with AFE Chapter 23 in Greensboro, NC.

Above is Willard demonstrating an engine that could actually power a pencil sharpener. He was famous for taking common items and incorporating into complex machinery so that those outside of the industry would be interested.

His passing marks the question, who is going to step up and educate future students? Should we pass on the baton or just drop it on them?

Hope that more will pick up where Willard left off and help develop more than just singers, athletes, but engineering leaders as well.

First Maintworld Congress a big success

2011-03-29T19:07:00.003-04:00

This exciting conference began in Helsinki and ended up at the Artic Circle. Above are leaders of ProMaint, MaintWorld, SkillTV to mention a few. Put on your calendar to join them at the EFNMS 2014. Nothing like going to HEL and back to sharpen your skills and understanding of maintenance and reliability performance initiatives that are advancing our business performance. With all of the world's disasters (natural and preventable) unfolding before our eyes on daily on news outlets, these conferences can be instrumental tools to solve the Maintenance Crisis.

Virtual Welding Equipment Flyer

2011-02-19T22:48:00.002-05:00

Thanks again to Lincoln Electric for supporting this tour and exposing more young minds to potential of welding.

Virtual Welding Tour

2011-02-19T22:39:00.000-05:00

Virtual Welding Tour Details-

2011-02-19T16:20:00.002-05:00

SkillTV is supporting a Virtual Welding Tour of 6 Community Colleges in central North Carolina. This blog will be a respository of information to allow participants to see, participate or support in some capacity this unique event.

Lincoln Electric is graciously providing the equipment to demonstrate to new generation the fundamentals and skills required to become successful welders.

Tour Schedule
March 2—Richmond Community College 9am-12 pm
March 2 – Fayetteville Technical Community College 2-5pm
March 3-- Sampson Community College9am-12pm
March 3 Central Carolina Community College 2-5pm
March 4 Bladen Community College 9am-12pm
March 4 Robeson Community College 2-5pm

Want to get your CPMM?

2011-02-07T17:27:00.000-05:00

April 4-6, 2011
Fayetteville Technical Community College
Fayetteville, North Carolina

Discover the power of the Certified Plant Maintenance Manager and AFE Certification! Whether it's effective management of your team, increasing your value in the marketplace or getting results to make your facility your masterpiece, the proven benefits of AFE Certification are vital to your future as a facilities professional.

The decision you make now will follow you wherever the facilities profession takes you. Make sure it takes you to the top.

Visit www.AFE.org/certification or call 571.203.7171 for complete information.
efficiency and productivity
and boost the bottom line

Certified Plant Manager (CPMM) Certification Review Courses are coming! Here are the Top Ten Reasons to become a Certified Plant Maintenance Manager:

10. AFE Certification tells the World you have the knowledge and experience to successfully operate
and maintain a facility
9. AFE Certification enhances job security in tough economic times
8. Companies value employees who proactively seek to develop their skills and expertise
7. AFE Certification lends dignity to what you know
6. AFE Certification is recognized by the US Department of State, US Postal Service, ARAMARK, Genzyme,
EMCOR, Erickson and many others
5. AFE Certification prepares you to Learn. Lead. Influence.
4. You can tell your boss: "I'm committed to my career - and to our company"
3. AFE Certification means you have the talent to increase revenue, improve 2. AFE Certified facility professionals earn $7,000 to $10,000 more than their peers

And the Number One reason to earn your CPMM?

1. What happens with AFE...Stays with you throughout your career!

"Find Me a Maintenance Woman" Xtranormal Video

2011-02-06T12:27:00.003-05:00

According to numerous industry leaders, the Maintenance and Reliability profession has only about 5% women workers. If we are going to fill the mass exodus of retiring baby boomers in the coming years, we better open the doors for the other gender, who also has lots of solid skill sets that could elevate our profession if given the training, and opportunities. To help break down the barriers for entry, Joel Leonard wrote these lyrics, Shannon Gilbert of the band 80's Enuff put them to music, and now Howard, aka MotorDoc, Penrose produced this Xtranormal video.

We hope you enjoy! Click on the title to download.

Introducing Deferred MaintenAxe

2011-01-08T09:34:00.002-05:00

Click on link above to view the new Xtranormal Video. This spoof commercial advocates deferring maintenance. Feel free to share with finance and top executives to have lively discussions on these malpractices.

1-Up on the Maintenance Career Game

2011-01-07T10:59:00.003-05:00

1-Up on the Maintenance Career Game

The following article article was written for us by Stuart Smith, MBA, MS. Stuart has over 20 years experience in running operations in mulitple industries and as a recent graduate student he has witnessed how training and teaching tools have changed over time. Stuart currently writes multiple blogs of Mintek about EAM and CMMS software solutions.

Did your career counselor forget to tell you about a career in maintenance? Perhaps, they were thinking of tool belts, t-shirts, a pencil in the ear and a lunch pail
where workers performed simple tasks such as pushing a broom or swishing a mop.

It is true these jobs exist, but the world of maintenance has changed in the last 15-20 years. The maintenance technology dreamed of back in the 90's is now a reality. Maintenance
professionals are responsible for equipment that can cost hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars.

Are You Prepared for Awesomeness

For years, the lack of awesomeness, has plagued industries who need skilled professional maintenance staff to maintain high dollar assets using available technology.
With a blue collar image, the public perception of maintenance professionals has not been one of high-end sports cars or styled living.

Without sexiness, industry, facility, municipal and property managers across most organizations have seen the average age of maintenance professionals climb into
their 50's. This has the potential to cripple businesses because maintenance professionals are expected to retire in great numbers over the next 10 years leading to a maintenance crisis.

Once retired, the knowledge base of the maintenance professional is lost forever unless the organization is making use of an
EAM or CMMS to record all historical maintenance activity. Workforce development using knowledge transfer has become a significant concern to many industries.

Lasers, Infrared, 3D: Not just for Gaming

There are great reasons why a maintenance career is the way to go. High dollar assets are requiring maintenance using a variety of new technologies such as:

Infrared Thermography: High tech cameras used to detect thermal variations that might contribute to asset failure or energy efficiency declines.

Laser Shaft Alignment: Make use of lasers to align two machines connected through a shaft. Poor alignment leads to energy waste and a shorter useful lifecycle.

Vibration Analysis: Vibrating equipment is generally not a good thing and not all vibrations can be felt or heard by the human ear. Makes uses of the physics of sound.

Ultrasound technology: Used in the detection of leaks and the early wear of asset components.

The organization, planning and execution of work order lifecycle is handled by sophisticated but user friendly CMMS software. The days of pencil and clipboard are being banished to the
land of "cords" and replaced with skilled mobile professionals wielding wireless handheld devices checking out the latest predictive maintenance (PDM) results and then plotting a course of action.

When the inspections or PDM results indicate a need for preventive maintenance or repair, maintenance teams can call upon their training that was conducted in graphic 3D sessions. This type of training was only dreamed about 20 years ago. The following video demonstrates how military simulation training is now affordable to facilities in all industries.

Professional Visibility

Maintenance careers are more attractive than ever before. The role that asset and maintenance management is playing in businesses has never been more important. Good asset and maintenance management is the financial margin difference between growing a business and business failure. Some other benefits of a career in maintenance include but are not limited to:

Asset failure can lead to major unplanned capital budget expenditures. If you can prevent this from happening you will be a hero.

Learning and training on new technologies is a transferable skill set enabling skilled maintenance professionals to be very marketable both domestically and internationally.

Global presence. Many industrial firms are international. If you become the best, doors may open to traveling around the globe as the person they rely upon to fix problems and help train others.

Constant access to new technology. The dream maintenance technology of today is will be the reality of the next decade. Be on the leading edge of change.

Career tracking is high. The natural progression from maintenance staff is into asset and maintenance management developing and planning asset lifecycles, capital budgeting, vendor management.

Find out more about maintenance training, careers and the latest news at PlantServices.com.

Join Joel in Hel

2011-01-05T07:19:00.002-05:00

Helsinki, that is!

Competitiveness from Assets
March 22nd–24th, 2011
Helsinki, Finland

Industrial Assets in Europe are ageing due to the low level of investments. The question is how to keep European production competitive compared to the emerging countries. The key is to optimise asset management actions and to ensure maximum overall equipment efficiency by systematic and planned maintenance.

Helsinki Exhibition Centre will be hosting the first International MaintWorld Congress, focusing on current issues in Maintenance and Asset Management from both the business and technological points of view. The congress will be organized in conjunction with Industrial Services 2011 exhibition, the most important biannual event within the area. The organizer of the congress is MaintWorld magazine with the key partners being European Federation of National Maintenance Societies (EFNMS) and Finnish Maintenance Society Promaint. The exhibition will be organised by Expomark Oy.

The First International MaintWorld Congress will be covering the big question from all angles. About 40 acknowledged speakers around the globe will be sharing their views and visions for the future.

Call for Speakers

2011-01-05T07:15:00.001-05:00

Next Euromaintenance Conference and Exhibition will take place in Belgrade, capital of Serbia, in May 2012.

Enjoy Belgrade and learn from skilled maintenance managers how to improve and implement maintenance strategies using lean management tools, how to decrease total manufacturing cost by increasing production reliability and how to set up good services and partnerships that really work within the challenges of sustainable development.

Euromaintenance 2012 is the ideal occasion to listen to various experienced top speakers and to share knowledge with them. This international event will brought on important issues of our community with purpose to stimulate reflection and debate on both the challenges and the solutions. It is not only an informational gathering, but strong opportunity for business networking. Euromaintenance 2012 is a must for everyone dedicated to industrial maintenance!

Belgrade's strategic geographic location, economic potential, infrastructure, workforce, quality of life and potential for further development have earned the title - Southeastern European City of the Future. Known as the gate to the east and door to the west, Belgrade exhibits an eclectic fusion of eastern and western cultures.

New Maintenance Poem

2011-01-04T16:00:00.002-05:00

This is the best Christmas present I got this year.

Hope you enjoy and use this Maintenance Poem:

Jotun maintenance poem…………..

So Maintenance is a cost, so you say,
Please look at things, another way,
With maintenance correct, your systems run fine.
There are great reductions, in your breakdown time.
So if you are talking, just maintenance cost.
Think of those breakdowns, and what you have lost.
Production, a deadline, maybe a customer too,
Surely you see, that’s a bigger cost to you.
So now let’s consider, our CMMS,
On its own it’s something, but still not the best.
However, with planned, and predictive maintenance as well,
It’s sure to reduce, all that production breakdown hell.
Then train our operators, on what parts to clean,
Autonomous maintenance, now is that so obscene
Machinery do they know, what operating parameters are set
I’m sure if you ask them, they will say NO, that’s a bet.
So in conclusion, hopefully you can see,
Maintenance as a cost, a complete fallacy
But to optimise it fully, we need a different attack,
With correct tools in your toolbox, there’s no turning back
Train up your operators, these misunderstandings they cost.
Then between us all, we’ll reduce your running time lost
Optimise your maintenance, start your journey right now,
Its something to embrace, come on use your, know how.

Steven Minshall 2010

More Break-Through Training

2010-02-15T10:01:00.000-05:00

SkillTV is honored that Barber Foods uses videos to illustrate the challenges, issues and opportunities of maintenance, worldwide. They now appreciate that the skills challenges are not a local issue but actually a global issue.

If you would like to set up a monitor in your company break-room to broadcast maintenance training videos, let us know. We are in the process of rolling out an entire support system to help more companies receive the benefits of this innovative approach.

Break-Through Training

2010-02-15T09:54:00.000-05:00

Read March issue of Crisis Corner to learn how Barber Foods set up a 24/7 Break-room training monitor to upgrade the skills sets of their 65+ maintenance personnel. SkillTV will be working to create future content to help more companies optimize this innovative approach to refresh and upgrade maintenance skill performance.

Top strategies for asset performance management

2010-02-12T10:15:00.000-05:00

The focus of this webcast is to highlight the strategies and business processes established by best-in-class companies to maximize return on assets in the midst of decreasing operational and capital budgets. This webcast will highlight how companies are able to translate these savings and operational improvements to increased profitability and shareholder value by the ability to connect asset performance to corporate performance.

Pride in Maintenance Workshop

2010-02-11T13:32:00.001-05:00

Pride in Maintenance Workshop

These are just a few of the attendees and pictures taken during the recent PRIDE IN Maintenance Workshop attended by Goodyear, Dupont, Purolator, Mayflower, Corbeil Consulting provided by the Maintenance Excellence Institute team of Pete Peters and Bob Gaskin at Fayetteville Technical Community College.

Interactive technology fueling innovation

2010-01-25T19:21:00.001-05:00

Join the Reliability Movement- Click here for a PDF of Reliability Movement Seminars Brochure

2010-01-10T15:25:00.004-05:00

Support the reliability movement by attending FTCC's free seminar series

Fayetteville Technical Community College (FTCC ) is supporting the reliability movement by offering free seminars featuring national and internationally recognized professionals who have increased uptime and reduced costs through upgrading reliability and predictive maintenance programs.

Facilities, plant, reliability engineers, maintenance managers, and technicians can sharpen their skill sets and awareness of industry and facilities management best practices.

Join Joel Leonard in Verona, Italy at EuroMaintenance Conference

2009-12-20T14:27:00.007-05:00

Joel Leonard just got approved to present at the May 12-14 Euromaintenance Conference in Verona, Italy. And he is extending a hearty welcome for others to join him fight the maintenance crisis on the worldwide stage in front of thousands of engineers, managers, execs from all over the world. Flights and accomodations can be researched and reasonable, and there will sure to be some very interesting entertainment, food, wine, and most importantly valuable information to digest and leverage to maximize business performance. For more information on EuroMaintenance Conference check: http://www.euromaintenance.org/
Want to learn more about Verona, Italy?

Would YOU like to be on SkillTV?

2009-12-20T06:16:00.002-05:00

Have a solution to fix the Maintenance Crisis?

Want to share your story and frustrations about the difficulty to repair and upgrade maintenance performance?

Are you fearful of the future without qualified maintenance and reliability technicians pipeline and willing to share your pain?

Do you have ideas and willing to share with the growing SkillTV audience?

Just contact Joel Leonard at (336) 338 1011 or email at Joel@SkillTV.net

Campaigning in New Hampshire

2009-12-19T21:16:00.004-05:00

While New Hampshire is no stranger to campaigning but last week was the first time that a southerner came to Nashua to evangelize Maintenance and work to resolve the Maintenance Crisis. With lots of boilers, compressors, aging bridges, tunnels, buildings, New England needs lots of maintenance and lots of future workers with average age of technicians and facilities engineers, managers being over 50, we must build a pipeline of workers quickly. Above Wayne Saya Regional Vice President for New England greets Joel Leonard and invited him to speak to AFE Chapter leadership at their AFE New England Board Meeting at the Common Man Restaurant,http://www.thecman.com/ in a renovated 18th century building. What a fitting place to walk on the same ground that other US revolutionaries walked to advance competitive performance strategies.

Crossing barriers- Letter from Boston Chapter of AFE

2009-12-19T21:04:00.004-05:00

Jeff Myrdek, AFE Chapter Secretary shares thoughts at CB Richard Ellis Sponsored AFE Meeting in Waltham, Mass.

December 19, 2009

Joel Leonard
Maintenance Evangelist
SkillTV.net

Dear: Joel

I have finally had a break in the action over the last couple of weeks since your event in Waltham. I want to send along this thank you letter on behalf of Chapter 37 for your speaking engagement. I have received positive feedback from our group and others in attendance. My goals in setting up this event were two fold, first I wanted to expand our membership base by offering a first rate speaker. Secondly, I wanted to provide a means of exposure for you to our area to spread the important message regarding your efforts and the challenges in the facilities profession. From my standpoint, both goals were accomplished.

He is a direct quote from one of the board members comments, “Joel’s disarming approach to address a complex issue was a breath of fresh air. He seems to be a lone wolf trying to get our youth to understand the long term opportunities and rewards of getting into facility work. We find the same issue in the trades. Maybe Joel’s next mission will be to promote the benefits, fiscally and the self-pride, that comes with blue-collar work. Too many parents are pushing children into white-collar jobs. A degree does no good if there are tens of thousands of people competing for limited work”.

I and other board members have always appreciated your presentations, this time your presented solutions and the interaction with the crowd was an added mix. I am also very happy that your commitment to an extended stay lead to additional time spent with the Region 8 Board. I believe that effort has produced benefits for both parties. We all look forward to your efforts of continued support to the Region as discussed during the board meeting. My only disappointment was that we could not get better press during your visit, an area that I do not have much background.

Thank you again for the commitment and service, you are unique, talented individual with a special gift, and I hope we can work together again on other projects in the future. I hope that your business continues to grow, and a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you!

Sincerely,

Jeff Myrdek

Jeff Myrdek
Chapter 37 Secretary

Giving Thanks

2009-12-06T20:47:00.000-05:00

With all of the discussion of disasters, maintenance crises, equipment failures, Joel decided to soak in some inspiration from a natural lake created by a meteorite millions of years ago called Lake Waccamaw and give thanks to all of those who have supported our efforts to fix the maintenance crisis.

5 Myths About the Maintenance Profession -- and How to Bust Them

2009-11-20T14:40:00.003-05:00

5 Myths About the Maintenance Profession -- and How to Bust Them

http://www.nfmt.com/

In this session, attendees will learn about the biggest myths that surround the maintenance function -- and how these stereotypes can be converted into opportunities to demonstrate the value of the MRO team to senior management. Presented in tag-team style by two industry experts, this presentation will list some of the common misperceptions experienced by maintenance executives and offer surefire strategies to challenge -- and change -- the meaning behind the maintenance professional label.Just a reminder that this one's scheduled for Wednesday, March 17 at 10:00 - 10:50 a.m

Details at http://www.nfmt.com/

Solutions are on the Horizon

2009-11-09T21:47:00.000-05:00

Recently, Joel Leonard had the opportunity to speak at the WSSHE Conference to dozens of the facilities managers in Washington state in area hospitals. In addition to being able to absorb beautiful vistas of Yakima Valley, Leonard was able to share and brainstorm solutions to the Maintenance Crisis.

Fostering Greatness- Support Welding School Scholarships

2009-11-04T11:09:00.002-05:00

We just discovered that a family is dealing with a loss of a child in a very profound way. Chris Ilcin and wife will be hosting a series of fund raisers to raise scholarship funding to allow foster kids to attend Lincoln Welding to honor their son who passed last year.

Here at SkillTV we want to honor their efforts to FixIT Forward by sharing details below: http://www.tcspromise.org/tcspromise/Default.aspx

What does the future hold for the Maintenance and Reliability Profession?

2009-11-03T21:43:00.002-05:00

What will the future bring to the maintenance industry? As of now it is cloudy, but can you help us clarify the future?

What do you think will be some of the advances, technologies and approaches that tomorrow's pros will be using to avoid and repair failures?

Halleluah, a congregation

2009-10-23T12:12:00.000-04:00

Maintenance Evangelist, Joel Leonard was delighted to learn that his session at Facilities Decision was the largest session of Vegas event. Joel will be attending AFE Facilities America Conference October 29th, AEE World Engineering Energy Congress in DC November 4th in the coming weeks.

If you want to join Joel for a taping of SkillTV contact him at Joel@SkillTV.net.

Fighting the Maintenance Crisis at Vegas Facilities Decisions

2009-10-23T12:07:00.000-04:00

Over 200 engineers and facilities leaders attended Joel Leonard's session at Facilities Decisions Conference on how to Fight the Maintenance Crisis in Las Vegas in September of 2009. Numerous resources cheered Joel on and accepted the invitation to join the fight.

Popping the stereotypes

2009-10-22T10:58:00.001-04:00

After delivering the presentation on Fighting the Maintenance Crisis at the Washington State Society for Healtcare Engineers, Joel Leonard was presented this gift that although would have been fun to play with, he realized that TSA would probably confiscate at the Airport. This event was great at shooting down stereotypes and misperceptions of the maintenance and facilities engineering function that inhibit performance.

Dr. Keen shares his vision

2009-08-26T14:38:00.001-04:00

Dr. Larry Keen, president of Fayetteville Technical Community College shares his educational vision of utilizing i3D technologies to accelerate learning and workforce development. He met with the group of industry experts that SkillTV recently invited to FTCC to explore some of this new technologies.

FLIR- shares Hot Technology

2009-08-24T11:43:00.001-04:00

During the Fayetteville Tech Technology exploratory, we had the pleasure of introducing educational and business leaders to the power of Infrared. During this taping FLIR's Jeff Dale hooked up a FLIR camera and we alternated throughout the discussion to the video and infrared camera. Check out Joel Leonard's hand print left after he touched his chest and how dark the cold water was depicted in infrared. Also see how the white heat of his eyes after removing his glasses. Although fun to play with, this technology helps companies uncover serious energy loss and can make a signficant impact to the bottom line.

"What if..."

2009-08-24T11:23:00.002-04:00

You will want to see this intriguing discussion with A3 Technologies, Alan Morris as he brainstorms on possible real world applications for 3d technologies in inventory and warehouse management. After viewing you will be asking "What if..."

Going Airborne "Ultrasonically speaking"

2009-08-24T09:46:00.001-04:00

Adrian Messer of UE Systems shared with Joel Leonard the latest Airborne Ultrasound technologies during the special SkillTV Technology Taping at FTCC. Adrian pointed out that companies typically get payback from the purchases of ultrasound leak detectors within the first month if not the first day.

Compressor Technologies Reduce Costs

2009-08-24T09:36:00.000-04:00

Patricia Del Buono of Atlas Copco Compressors explained to Joel Leonard that there are lots of opportunities to leverage technology of compressors to reduce energy and costs. Check SkillTV in the coming weeks to see this interesting discussion.

Animated Alignment discussion on SkillTV

2009-08-24T09:23:00.000-04:00

Above is a collage of the vibrant discussion Joel Leonard had with Paul Berberian of Alignment Supplies. Paul stated that close to 50% of all rotating equipment failures can be traced back to misaalignment. Check back to SkillTV in the coming weeks to see this and other interesting discussions filmed at the new SkillTV partner Fayetteville Technical Community College campus.

More Prizes for the Fix It Forward Photo Contest

2009-08-14T09:33:00.005-04:00

This contest is more than just taking pictures of kids working on equipment but hopefully it will inspire more to help us Fix It Forward by building future pipeline of skilled workers.

Below is an email I got from Ralph "Pete" Peters, founder of the Maintenance Excellence Institute. He believes so much in our efforts that he is donating prizes to the cause.

See his email below-- pardon the all caps but he wrote this while on a blackberry. Thanks Pete! Hopefully more will respond to this opportunity to help Fix It Forward!

JOEL::::>YES >>>>>A) AN MBBP HARD COPY BOOK ($50 ON PRIDE) + B) AN MBBP ELECTRONIC VERSION ($30 VALUE ON PRIDE) + C) A SCOREBOARD FOR MAINTENANCE EXCELLENCE IN ELECTRONIC ($195 VALUE ON PRIDE).

Ralph W. "Pete" PetersFounder & President: The Maintenance Excellence Institute-6809 Foxfire Place, Suite 100, Raleigh, North Carolina 27615 -2625 East Beach Drive, Oak Island, North Carolina 28465Office: 919-270-1173 Direct Cell: 919-280-1253Web: http://www.pride-in-maintenance.com/ Skype: PRIDEnWorkE-Mail: Pete@PRIDE-in-Maintenance.com & RalphPetePeters@aol.com

Extending Fix It Forward Photo Contest Submission to August 25th

2009-08-13T14:26:00.003-04:00

Three year-old Baker Leonard is wondering why everyone is not busting down the barn doors to submit their pictures for the Fix It Forward Contest.

We have gotten a few but to have a true contest, we need lots more photos for viewers to evaluate.

So we have extended submission date till August 25th and will post entries on the 26th for judging. Send entries to Joel@SkillTV.net

Winners will be announced on Labor Day.

So as Baker says "quit sitting around and let's get busy building future skilled workers."

Send your pics in NOW for Fix It Forward Photo Contest

2009-08-04T09:25:00.003-04:00

Send pics of future Skilled Workers to Joel@SkillTV.net by August 20th, 2009.

We will then post them and allow viewers to vote for their favorite.

The Top 3 will win special prizes provided by Grainger.com.

Fix It Forward Photo Contest News

2009-07-30T11:01:00.003-04:00

We just learned that Grainger.com is not only providing a first place prize, a Gatorade Cooler, but also second and third place prizes: Tool Kits.

We also want to clarify: send your entries (only up to 3 per person) to Joel@SkillTV.net by August 20th. Feel free to add caption to your pictures as that may add to the message.

Need ideas? SkillTV would love to see kids with tools, equipment, working, etc. Also we would love to see examples of generational exchange with kids and their mentors. Let us know if you have any questions.

Fix It Forward Sample Photos

2009-07-29T16:50:00.007-04:00

A Little Training Helps!

To inspire more contestants to help us Fix It Forward, here are pictures of 3-year old Baker Leonard getting a lesson on how to operate an antique coal fired steam crane from a seasoned veteran at the Southeast Old Threshers Reunion.

Hopefully, more will pitch in and help us connect future generations to the opportunities in Maintenance and Reliability sectors.

Cool Prize for Fix it Forward Photo Contest

2009-07-29T16:27:00.003-04:00

Grainger is providing SkillTV a 5 gallon Gatorade Cooler to award the winner of the SkillTV Fix It Forward Photo Contest.

Please send pictures of future generations playing with tools, equipment, machines (please be safe) to Joel@SkillTV.net by August 20th to be included. The winner will be announced on Labor Day.

Fix it Forward Photo Contest

2009-07-29T15:33:00.003-04:00

To encourage more Reliability Pros to pitch in and share the skilled opportunities with future generations, SkillTV Blog will be hosting a special picture contest. Please submit your entries to Joel@SkillTV.net by August 20th. Then we will allow viewers to vote for their favorite. On Labor Day we will announce the winner, who will receive a brand new Gatorade cooler (great for tailgate parties) compliments of Grainger.

Cruise-In showcases skilled talent and refurbished treasures

2009-07-25T18:17:00.006-04:00

Each month the small town of Oakboro, NC hosts the largest Cruise-in Burnout in the state. During event, hobbyists show off their refurbished vehicles and socialize. Later several thousand people gather to watch the Burnout-- where participants drive their vehicles to a police officer. The officer informs them to be safe then they press their pedals for the gas and brakes at the same time thus driving their back or in some cases front tires into a ferocious spin. The friction from the specially poured concrete pad burns off the tire rubber thus creating a huge plume of smoke to the delight the cheering crowd.

Yes, this is not exactly intellectual entertainment, but it is more interesting than watching TV. What is even more interesting is that amongst the throngs of spectators and participants many of these people possess and raw and transferrable skills needed to maintain our reliability performance.

As opposed to paying thousands of dollars for advertizing skilled jobs, HR departments would be better served to attend a local cruise in where they could attract some very capable resources to help fix their businesses forward.

Happen to overhear 2 boys on a truck bed boast that they did not have to go to school this upcoming year because they were so bored they quit at the 9th grade. I quickly went over and informed them and their girlfriends if they were not pursuing academics that it would very smart for them to pursue some vocational education and gave them specific instructions on how to prepare themselves for higher levels of income. At first they were embarrased but after hearing me passionately empathize and offer advice, they and their friends for were very appreciative.

If more of us make the effort to bother, more of our youth will not get lost in poverty, drugs, crime, and be able to make a positive contribution. So what are you doing to fix the maintenance crisis?

Apologize if this sounds preachy, but as you can tell I am just getting us revved up to fix it forward.

Another Maintenance Pro offers tips

2009-07-13T13:18:00.001-04:00

Mike Cowley, President of CE Maintenance Solutions took a few minutes last week on his vacation to share with SkillTV some his frustrations and ideas on how companies can better utilize maintenance. Tune into SkillTV in coming weeks to view Mike's wisdom gleened from years from working at food distribution, textile industry and from educating leaders in the US and abroad including stops in China.

Want to join our family of sponsors?

2009-07-12T21:13:00.007-04:00

If you like our content on SkillTV and know of an organization that would like to support our efforts to fight the maintenance crisis, please let us know.

Over the last 2 years, SkillTV has helped develop video tools to help showcase tactics techniques and approaches to elevate the business sustainability and profitability by providing maintenance and reliability.

We are planning on releasing a second SkillTV Enewsletter in the beginning of each month that focuses on automation and aging infrastructure while the one at the end of the month focuses on workforce development- recruitment, development and retention topics. That way our subscribers will be better empowered to address these challenges.

If interested just email our host Joel Leonard at Joel@SkillTV.net or call him at 336 338 1011.

How do we build a pipeline of future workers?

2009-07-05T22:35:00.002-04:00

Again, Reliability Gods need your input. The feedback from the Ten Commandments has been terrific. Feel free to send more and under that same vein. What are your ideas on how we can develop a qualified pipeline of future workers?

June Crisis Corner | You have options

2009-07-01T21:49:00.002-04:00

Crisis Corner You have options Plant Services

Hope you enjoy this month's Crisis Corner Column at the above link. Also keep on sending suggested commandments for Today's Reliability Pro.

Maintenance Workers carry the world on their shoulders

2009-06-30T15:18:00.000-04:00

Above SkillTV's Joel Leonard illustrates the point that without maintenance the world's equipment, infrastructures, economies will crumble! We all need to recognize outstanding efforts, develop current workers with modern approaches and recruit new workers with appropiate attitudes necessary to advance our society.

With all of pitching in together, it is amazing how far we can elevate our performance!

"Get me down from here"

2009-06-30T11:43:00.002-04:00

Joel Leonard quickly discovered it was easier to climb up this 15 foot vehicle than to get down.

Now that is an engine!

2009-06-30T11:40:00.000-04:00

Power Shopping

2009-06-30T11:39:00.000-04:00

Check out Joel Leonard's new ride. The NC Sec of Agriculture let him take a quick spin of his special vehicle that promotes NC produce. Now that is craftmanship at it's finest!

Calling all "Maintenance Gods", Can you help?

2009-06-23T02:02:00.005-04:00

To help provide insight into major activities that must be fulfilled for success as a reliability professional, I will be providing an article outlining the TEN Commandments for Today's Reliability Pros.

Any suggestions?

I will gladly give credit who suggestions, I use and thanks in advance!

Joel Leonard
Joel@SkillTV.net
336 338 1011

Join SkillTV at Condition Monitoring Technology Summit

2009-05-26T14:16:00.001-04:00

Condition Monitoring Technology Summit in Louisana
Thursday, June 18, 2009 9:00 am - 3:30 pm (Eastern Time)

Plant and maintenance managers in the New Orleans/Baton Rouge area are invited to attend Condition Monitoring Technology Summit 2009. Conveniently located in Gonzales, this one day event sponsored by Azima DLI will provide attendees with best practices and advice for implementing world-class machine condition monitoring programs that improve machine reliability and uptime, and decrease overall plant maintenance costs. Presenters include some of the industry’s most respected professionals who will share their experiences leading successful machine condition monitoring programs at companies like Air Liquide, Exxon Mobil, Kimberly-Clark and Nucor Steel. For more detailed topic information, and online registration please go to www.RegOnline.com/CMTsummit.

At 87 still Making a Difference

2009-05-26T10:55:00.006-04:00

Since we are now coming out of Memorial Day weekend, had to share a news story about a retired maintenance technician who has now become an award winning author and poet. He spends several hours a day recounting his days as a prisoner of war in WWII and his time while serving as the first black maintenance technician for two major industrial operations.

Very interesting and inspiring man! He is definitely helping fix it forward by setting an example to us all on to break barriers.

http://www.news-record.com/content/2009/05/25/article/at_87_he_has_a_legacy_to_share

Want to hear NPR Program on Maintenance Crisis?

2009-05-14T09:49:00.001-04:00

WVTF Evening Edition May 12th 2009 - part one
Yesterday, May 12, 2009, 8:00:00 PM WVTF News
On this installment of Evening Edition, host Fred Echols discusses the lack of skilled maintenance workers in the country. His guests are Joel Leonard, the "Maintenance Evangelist", Patrick Ruco, representing Corning Industries; Mark Church, the Director of Career Technical Education for Franklin County Schools; and Dolores Vest, President of the Western Virginia Workforce Development Board.
200905131307390.ee worker shortage one.mp3

WVTF Evening Edition May 12th 2009 - part two
Yesterday, May 12, 2009, 8:00:00 PM WVTF News
The conclusion of host Fred Echols discussion regarding the shortage of skilled maintenance workers.
200905131318520.ee worker shortage two.mp3

Responding to the Cry ... Your Voice Wanted Too

2009-05-05T14:31:00.004-04:00

In the last blog, I mentioned a research project being conducted at Penn State.

The research project includes a survey about Current Practices, Challenges and Needs for Successful Maintenance and Energy Management Programs. The survey is now avaliable at:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=TBtehGo0lPEYVrdISRfIWA_3d_3d

Please consider completing the survey!

A cry for help is heard

2009-04-14T07:24:00.003-04:00

Responding to my NFMT Charge At the National Facilities Management and Technology Conference in Baltimore, MD this past March, I spoke on "Fighting the Maintenance Crisis." I gave each attendee a charge to go back and do one thing to help fight the maintenance crisis. The youngest person at the session has responded to my charge by sharing about the research she is doing:

Angela Lewis, a graduate student and researcher, at Penn State is developing a decision analysis tool to help Facility Managers assess, plan and implement energy performance and maintenance programs for commercial building mechanical equipment. The main goal of the tool is to quickly help Facility Managers assess their current maintenance and energy performance programs and provide one recommendation with three specific, actionable items that can be completed. As each item is completed, the tool can be used for continuous improvement to move from reactive to proactive maintenance.

Her work includes an web-based survey and testing of the decision analysis tool. The Current Practices, Needs & Challenges of the Energy & Maintenance Programs survey will come out on May 1st. The decision analysis tool is under development. Test case participants are being sought to complete the survey and participate in the decision analysis tool testing. Further information can be found at www.improvebuildingperformance.com or by contacting Angela at ama259@psu.edu

Breaking Silos- can be fun!

2009-04-09T12:59:00.010-04:00

Above Shannon Smith of WGHP Fox 8 shares with viewers the Asheboro Chili Cookoff where they will using Infrared Thermographic Camera to detect temperature levels of foreheads of the brave/stupid contestants. April 18th.

http://www.myfox8.com/video/?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=3631386

Click on above link to see the news footage of the Hot Head Pre Contest. What was interesting was that the black gentleman, although not visible to the naked eye was actually the hottest of the 3 volunteer contestants.

See with the sensitivity of the Infrared Thermographic camera you can see who is actually the hottest head after eating hot sauce.

This event enabled the public to see the power and potential of infrared and raise the public apprecation of the predictive maintenance profession.

Heating Up for Asheboro Chili Cookoff

2009-04-06T16:42:00.007-04:00

Skill TV Host, Joel Leonard is busy getting ready for morning TV shoots for Fox and CBS Affiliates to showcase Asheboro Chili Cookoff and Hot Head Contest. They want to sample real chili, so Joel is busy concocting unique varieties.
Roasted tomatoes, garlic, onions in Coconut Milk to make extra smooth.

This chili will have 8 different varieties of beans, have dried pineapple chunks, chocolate, chipotle peppers, smoked sausage, and numerous intersesting items.

In case you are wondering what does this have to do with the Maintenance Crisis. Well, in part nothing but with the Hot Head Contest using Infrared Camera to measure forehead temperatures, Joel will have the opportunity to showcase to the public the advance technologies in the FM and Reliability World so that hopefully more respect, appreciation, resources, and future workers will be developed.

Check out
http://hotheadcontest.blogspot.com/ and http://asheborochilicookoff.blogspot.com/ for more details.

Skill TV's Hot Head Contest getting national attention

2009-04-06T00:09:00.003-04:00

We are learning when you combine Technology and stupidity together. the resultant product is lots of curiousity.

In hopes of breaking down the silos between the public and the maintenance and reliability function, Skill TV is excited to host the upcoming Hot Head Contest during the April 18th Asheboro Chili Cookoff.

Recently, Skill TV host Joel Leonard was interviewed by NPR reporter Fred Echols. Also Joel will be interviewed by a Fox and CBS affiliates about this unique event.For more details about the Hot Head Contest check out this new blog http://www.hotheadcontest.blogspot.com/

New Maintenance Crisis Song Video now available online

2009-03-30T11:49:00.002-04:00

Check out this instant classic!

http://vidego.multicastmedia.com/player.php?v=an96iy04

Fighting the Maintenance Crisis on a new front

2009-03-30T11:41:00.003-04:00

Saturday turned out to be a very interesting. productive day in the fight against the maintenance crisis. Greta Lint accepted first place award for media promotion of the Great Heads of Statesville Exit Poll at the NC Press Club and now is entered in competiton at the national level.

In addition to members of the professional media, also in attendance were students and teacher adivisors of school newspapers who won entries in the high school press competition.

While there was able to offer the maintenance crisis as a story tip to the students and school newspaper advisors. Several jaws dropped when I cited out details of the compensation and the amount of need and the volume of pending retirees in the skilled functions. One teacher said we never hear about this issue. Drove home the message when I shared with them a quote from an nuclear power plant exec who stated that when their new nuke plant goes online, he will have to hire every licensed electrician in a four state area. Then I asked how many of their friends want to be American Idols, and how many want to be electricians.

Hopefully these students will help attract new recruits in the fight against the maintenance crisis.

Politics, Pumpkins and Awards, Oh My!

2009-03-26T09:49:00.006-04:00

In this era of several hundred TV shows, thousand of online programs, millions of blogs, and other media outlets, it is very hard to make a lasting impression. So when you hear about people talking about an event from almost six months ago and then later learn that you won an media promotion from NC Press Club, you know have done something special.

Congratulations to Greta Anita Lint for taking a crazy idea and making it work by creating and promoting The Great Heads of Statesville Exit Poll. http://thegreatheadsofstatesvilleexitpoll.blogspot.com/

On Saturday, Greta Lint and Joel Leonard (her creative department) will be attending the 2009 NC Press Club Awards Banquet where Greta will receive her 1st place award. Below Greta is on her way to share some unique economic development strategies with the World Bank.

As great as it is for peers to recognize achievement, the greater result from this crazy event is that numerous kids were turned onto engineering careers- now that is true economic development.

Calibrating Aspirations to Real Opportunities

2009-03-26T07:55:00.007-04:00

Post 911, it has been very difficult for kids to get an accurate understanding and appreciation of the workplace because security designed to keep bad people away also keeps away kids' ability to tour, see, and interact in a modern business environment.

Therefore they make career decisions based on what they see in school and TV, which as we all know does not provide the full picture of the business world. As a result employers who have real needs, have to turn lots of people away in search of qualified workers.

With the baby boomers retiring, with skilled jobs becoming more available in mass, yet the unemployment levels growing disturbingly high, it is very important that accurate information about the skills and attitudes required for more to reach success in this very challenging era be dispensed.

SkillTV just attended Technology Career Day at Guilford Technical Community College. High school kids from several area counties were bused in and were able to meet with numerous employers to talk about real, high paying jobs for those with qualified skills and learned how to earn those qualifications.

If more communities around the world invest more time in these type of efforts, then more of the aspirations of our youth will begin to match to the real needs of our employers.

SkillTV sends out special thanks and congratulations to the Piedmont Triad Partnership, GTCC, ISA, the MPACT Learning Center and all of the other organizations who participated in developing a very special learning event.

Salmonella and Jelly Poem

2009-03-24T14:44:00.006-04:00

There was an exec like no other
his company made peanut butter
He refused to do maintenance and thus made profits above the norm
That is until his plant was hit by a big storm
His maintenance manager had a huge backlog of workorders to fill
but the exec said no and would not pay the pay the bills
Water and bird *** got in the batch
because the maintenance staff could not repair the hatch.
Later people all over the country died,
and then the exec tried to cover up and lied,
Even the exec won't even eat peanut butter and jelly

because he knows he would get sick if it got in his belly.
He used to brag that his company was the best
but now he wishes he listened to maintenance so that he would avoid all of this mess.

News Break: SkillTV to Host Hottest Head Competition

2009-03-18T08:10:00.008-04:00

In an effort to break down the silos of the Facilities Engineering sector and the public, SkillTV proudly announces that on Saturday April 18th in Asheboro, NC, we will be hosting the Hottest Head Contest. Infrared Thermography Experts Stockton Infrared will be taking time off from using their trusty FLIR infrared thermographic camera to monitor and diagnose circuit breakers, steam pipes and roofs to measure and compare the forehead temperatures of contestants who dare to consume "Liquid Stoopid" and other inflammatory hot sauces. See what happened to Santa above when he ate a cookie soaked in Hot Sauce. He couldn't wait to get back to the North Pole.

We hope that this event will help more understand the opportunities of predictive technologies and perhaps help inspire interest in future generations in the much needed Skilled Trades professions.

So come join us as we educate the masses and have fun too. http://www.asheborochilicookoff.com/ By the way, SkillTV's host Joel Leonard will also be entering the Chili cooking competition with his concoction of Frangelica marinated Ribeye cubes, and special beans cooked in a gallon of Chimay Belgian beer and one bottle of flavorful Tiger Sauce mixed in.

The Power of Automation

2009-03-07T22:50:00.003-05:00

To the left is Brad Kemmerer, President of ABCO Automation, Inc. He recently gave Joel Leonard a tour of his facility and demonstrated this newly built custom automated work cell. This machine performs the work of numerous operator but still requires human support to ensure proper, continual performance. The new skills needed for modern maintenance technicians continue to grow as the complexity and sophistication of modern machines increase.

A Tweeting we shall go!

2009-03-01T16:29:00.002-05:00

Last week, we finally got the tech-courage up to overcome the learning curve and start tweeting on Twitter.com

Come join us at http://twitter.com/SkillTV and follow our attempts to communicate in less than 140 characters.

SkillTV Update:A little Chin Foliage, National News, Upcoming Conference and Congress

2009-03-01T15:31:00.006-05:00

After returning from Dubai in December Joel Leonard has been hunkering down working to get his book on fighting the maintenance crisis out this spring. As a result, he let a little chin foliage grow out. Now since his beloved Greta has grown attached to the new facial outgrowth, he has decided to keep it, at least for a while. Don't worry the SkillTV logo will remain the same. And if you attend NFMT next week, you will be able to recognize Joel and give him your opinions first hand on SkillTV.

Thanks again for all of your support and feedback! This week Joel, possibly, will be interviewed by NBC and next week hopes to interview several US Senators in DC after speaking at NFMT in Baltimore on the 11th.

Background info on the background - Joel is standing in his backyard and behind him is a 60 foot high water tank that Joel and neighbors use as a backdrop to watch LCD projected movies during weekend campfires. Who said technology couldn't be fun?

Stay tuned as the Putman Media edit team will be unveiling numerous videos in the coming weeks on SkillTV.net and we hope that you are getting some good info from SkillTV and having fun as well!

SkillTV to attend FM Asia Summit

2009-02-24T11:10:00.003-05:00

Beijing, China 4- 5 June 2009
http://www.fmasiasummit.com/

The FM Asia Summit 2009 is the first International B-to-B Annual FM Conference in China and the largest one in Asia Region so far in 5 years. FM Asia 2009 attracts an exciting line-up of 500+ top-level regional and international Facilities Managers, Sustainability managers, Property Owners, Fund Asset Management directors, Transport Infrastructure, Corporate Real Estate Managers, Factory Managers, Airport Facility Managers, Energy Managers, Government Asset Management Officers, Facility Consultants, management IT & Software Directors, etc.

This event will provide Joel Leonard unique insight into the Skills Challenges worldwide and what Asia companies are doing to fight the Maintenance Crisis.

Maintenance Renaissance

2009-02-18T22:15:00.005-05:00

Click title to read Crisis Corner article entitled Maintenance Renaissance. The picture above is the italian frescoes within the Leonardo Da Vinci Museum of Science and Technology. Believe it or not most of that image is actually a flat 2 d image painted to look 3 dimensional.

You can also see the damage to these several hundred year old works of art caused by recent roof leaks. That is a true tragedy. We can get to the moon and back but we can't protect works of art from roof leaks?

Yes, we do need a reawakening or renaissance to address maintenance issues.

Dubeautiful Dubai

2009-02-18T17:46:00.002-05:00

Click on Title to view this month's Plant Services Crisis Corner article about Joel Leonard's trip to Dubai. He is standing with the General Manager of the Malaysian Airports. Her presence at the Middle East Maintenance Managers Conference caused quite a stir and challenged area stereotypes.

Food-Borne Illnesses Stem from Maintenance Issues

2009-02-17T15:32:00.002-05:00

Food-Borne Illnesses Stem from Maintenance Issues

ASHEBORO, NC (Feb. 17, 2009) – A leaking pipe can not only cost a company more than $100,000, but it can also lead to deaths from food-borne illnesses, such as salmonella in peanut butter.
That’s according to Joel Leonard.
Dubbed “The Maintenance Evangelist,” because of his efforts to increase awareness of engineering and maintenance fields, he has keynoted international conferences, written numerous articles for Plant Services Magazine and Canada’s Plant Engineering and Maintenance Magazine, been featured on National Public Radio, CNBC and UNC-TV, and is writing a book slated for release in spring 2009. In January 2008, he collaborated with Putman Media, Inc. to launch SkillTV.net, the first online video channel dedicated to discussing and solving what he calls “The Maintenance Crisis.”
“In 2007 ConAgra’s salmonella outbreak, the peanut butter issue was attributed to leaky pipes that caused contamination. On Monday it was announced on ABC’s Good Morning America that a leaky roof allowed bird feces to wash into the process. Now, that’s a good breeding ground for trouble!”
Leonard’s platform is that typically top management people do not consider the long-term cost of repairing and maintaining leaky pipes, valves and roofs. “They think the problem will go away. They don’t understand that by initially solving the problem, they’ll save thousands, if not millions, of dollars down the road. And in this case, it could have saved many lives and potentially kept the company owner out of jail.”
He says in his travels he sees this same philosophy worldwide. “Maintenance engineers are facing unbelievable challenges in trying to balance costs, productivity and keep the boss happy.”
While in Dubai in December, Leonard interviewed an engineer who is over the maintenance of 97 oil platforms in the Persian Gulf. Part of his job was to renovate and paint the pipes, to prevent them from leaking. An accountant wanted to “save” money by eliminating the $6 million paint budget. If the engineer had not stepped in and explained the repercussion of that decision, the new renovations would only last three of the normal life span of fifteen years – the pipes would have leaked, employees could have been killed and a serious environmental risk to the Persian Gulf could have occurred.
“Sometimes CFOs and CEOs just don’t think longterm. A little preventive maintenance today can not only generate profits but also save lives tomorrow.”

Have you seen the Maintenance Crisis Song Video?

2009-02-16T22:39:00.002-05:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJJ_zFvAS1M

NPR's WVTF to provide monthly coverage of the Maintenance Crisis

2009-02-16T22:11:00.004-05:00

In an effort to cover critical issues that are largely under the radar, NPR station WVTF will be providing listeners monthly interviews with SkillTV's Joel Leonard. These interviews will be recorded and posted on SkillRadio.

March 10-12 NFMT Baltimore Conference Register Now

2009-02-15T22:34:00.003-05:00

W3.41

3/11/2009 3:10:00 PM -4:00:00 PM

Fighting The Maintenance CrisisRoom Number: 341Presenter(s): Joel Leonard, HostSkillTV.net
More and more companies are feeling the symptoms of the maintenance crisis. Deferred maintenance is reaching chronic levels as current equipment continues to age. While sophisticated, new equipment needs more care, attention and custom configuration. Companies are struggling to find internal talent that has the skills and education to replace the retiring baby boomers. Attend this session to discover some proven solutions to this crisis, discuss innovative approaches to thrive in this adverse business environment.
Learning Objective:
1. Comprehend what is the current state of the maintenance industry
2. Understand the technical skill gaps of incumbent workforce
3. Understand where to find technicians

Making progress but we are not "Finnished" yet - SkillTV getting worldwide attention.

2009-02-13T14:41:00.003-05:00

Attached is an email we received from Finland. Great to see that our activities are being noticed and hopefully emulated worldwide so that more parts of the world can fix tomorrow today.
---------------------------------
Dear Joel Leonard

Thank you for your interesting information and congratulations for the great job you are doing for opening young minds to opportunities in maintenance profession. How to get youth to be interested in maintenance profession is a common problem in Europe, also here in Finland. Your doings and examples gives us a challenge for doing something similar. Let’s be in contact.

Best regards,
Göran Westerholm
President - The Finnish Maintenance Society Promaint and
BoD of EFNMS

Yes, We Can Fix the Maintenance Crisis!

2009-02-11T09:56:00.005-05:00

Engineering and Maintenance Professionals:

Engineers week is coming up and most of us probably have not had the opportunity to speak to kids. I hope that you and other step up to the challenge to help us open more young minds to opportunities in the enginnering and maintenance profession. Feel free to use this powerpoint as a guide and feel free to add or modify to reflect your views.
To view the presentation, visit www.plantservices.com/Media/0902/Potential_Career_Path.ppt

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjEEAm4CPbk&feature=channel_page

Above is a link where I participated in a daylong career day. After hearing me give the 5 minute powerpoint overview about 300 8th graders got the chance to get on SkillTV. They had to stand on some bleachers to be filmed.

Well, as you know there is always “one” in a crowd. This kid at the end of video wanted to get on SkillTV at the last minute and runs up to the bleachers to stand beside the pretty girls. He forgot to focus on the first step and went flying head first into the gym’s concrete wall. He is ok and actually set up a great statement encouraging more of us to mentor kids (even girl crazy knuckleheads need mentors)

Thought you might enjoy the laugh and hope that you leverage that powerpoint to help us fill up the pipeline with future workers. Yes, we can fix the Maintenance Crisis!

Best Wishes

Joel Leonard

Joel@SkillTV.net

Economic Stimulant or Depressant?

2009-02-09T22:19:00.007-05:00

Here's your chance to speak up.

As Congress moves forward on sacrificing tomorrow for the betterment of today, do you feel that the new package will stimulate or depress our economic future?

Here at SkillTV, we are delighted the deferred maintenance backlog will be worked down and that workforce investment act is funded and that green initiatives are finally given the green light. However, we are still concerned about the true economic impact.

Economists are all over the map on their thoughts. Often economists forecasting is flawed because even the most respected economists predicted 10 out of last 3 recessions.

So we would love to hear your feedback and thoughts on how this will affect our current and future economic prosperity and what can the maintenance and engineering community do to better the results.

Just email your thoughts to Joel@skilltv.net

Overcoming Media Bias against the Maintenance Profession

2009-02-04T18:07:00.005-05:00

Ted Natt, editor for the Sandhills Business Journal recently interviewed Joel Leonard at his home about the Maintenance Crisis. Joel returned the favor by interviewing Ted about why the media doesn't understand the value contribution of maintenance.

To give our readers a behind the scenes information below is a funny story. It is so hard to film without interference from the outside world. We have had challenges with ambient car, plane noise and not to mention the wait staff at conference clanging utensils and breaking down chairs.

But we never thought we would compete with a cat. Check out the TV debut of Katie the cat. Like a boy named Sue, this Tomcat was mis-sexed and was given a female feline's name. Katie obviously takes out his revenge by haming it up for the camera. He snuck in under Joel's elbow peers in the camera and then flashes his long haired tail to the lens at a minute 15 seconds into this video. Thought you might like a little chuckle but also hope that you enjoy this breakthrough interview that converted one member of the Press to better understand and appreciate the maintenance profession. Hopefully more in the media will follow suit and the maintenance profession will get the resources and respect it deserves.

Click here to see Musical on Financial Crisis

2009-02-04T10:08:00.005-05:00

Believe it or not a German musician charted notes to financial graphs and came up with a new style of music. Kind of interesting and nauseating when you realize you are enjoying watching the US Deficit spending grow, unemployment rise, stock market tumble, meanwhile your foot taps to the tune.

However, it is great to see others use music to bring closer attention to our challenges. Hopefully, this tune will marshal efforts as the Maintenance Crisis Songs continue to demonstrate.

SkillTV goes YouTube, Facebook, Linkedin, Current.com and Myfacilitiesnet.com

2009-02-04T06:27:00.007-05:00

As we know know from electricity, poor connections mean loss of power. The biggest reason why most engineering and maintenance do not have adequate resources, tools, support and respect, is the simple lack of connections.

Therefore to help mitigate this issue and to help resolve the maintenance crisis, SkillTV is going viral. We are in the process of unleashing our content from SkillTV.net to the rest of the web. We hope to connect more of the outside world to opportunites in the maintenance and engineering sector. Click below to see the SkillTV videos on YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/user/SkillTV1

Thriving Forward

2009-02-02T10:39:00.004-05:00

Joel Leonard met with Council on Competitiveness President, Deborah L. Wince-Smith at the 2008 National Summit on American Competitiveness. She offered that as the world's economy grows so does the opportunities available for American companies. Therefore when others win, American do not lose. Check out this discussion on SkillTV.net.

Maintenance and Reliability taught at the University level?

2009-02-01T11:49:00.003-05:00

Well they do at the University of Tennessee at the Maintenance and Reliability Center under the direction of Tom Byerley.

Below is the MRC Departmental Mission:

The Maintenance and Reliability Center (MRC) exists to advance maintenance and reliability education and practices within the academic and industrial communities. We create opportunities for member companies, students, faculty, and industry to achieve exceptional value through a comprehensive program of education, research, and information sharing. For more information on this unique program check
http://www.engr.utk.edu/mrc/

Great to see that at least one major university recognizes the value contribution of maintenance. To see Tom's interview with Joel Leonard check out the In Crisis Comes Opportunity section of SKILLTV.net.

Overcoming Stigmas-- "Maintenance Techs are not Goobers anymore"

2009-01-30T12:22:00.003-05:00

How can we dispell the myth that Maintenance techs are a bunch of untrained Goobers?

We discovered Tim Pettigrew, a Mayberry Tribute Actor, who actually is a certified school bus mechanic. He reveals in his interview with Joel Leonard on SkillTV.net the complexities of modern transportation equipment and the need for qualified technicians.

Converging Skills- Joel Meets with Technology Giant Robert Scoble

2009-01-30T11:48:00.005-05:00

You may want to visit SkillTV.net section In Crisis Comes Opportunity to view a discussion Joel Leonard had with Blogging pioneer Robert Scoble. Robert is credited for the advancing corporate blogging. Check his wiki at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Scoble

Joel and Robert discuss educational challenges and the need for schools to provide experiential education and hands on training to fully engage students and to develop technical talents.

Robert is not just a pioneer but also now his name is now a unit measurement in the techworld.

Unit of Measurement
In September 2008 followcost.com, a website which calculates how annoying it will be to follow anyone on Twitter, invented the milliscoble unit of measurement defined as: "1/1000th of the average daily Twitter status updates by Robert Scoble as of 10:09 CST September 25, 2008." At that time, Scoble was averaging 21.21 tweets per day, so a milliscoble is 0.02121 tweets per day. A person with a milliscoble rating of 1000 will be as annoying to follow as Scoble.

Challenge: Preserving the Past yet Building for Tomorrow

2009-01-30T11:26:00.005-05:00

Many think to advance our society we must break away from the past. However, by preserving and maintaining yesterday's assets could be building tomorrow's treasures. Believe it or not we often can advance performance by continuing technologies and practices of yesterday while also implementing new technology.

Joel Leonard interviewed Benjamin Briggs, the executive director of Preservation Greensboro to learn about this process.

To view this video check out the In Crisis Comes Opportunity Section at http://www.skilltv.net/

Manufacturing Progress

2009-01-30T10:44:00.003-05:00

Former Michigan Governor John Engler, who is now the president of the National Association of Manufacturers shared his perspectives on the skills challenges with Joel Leonard at the 2008 National Summit on American Competitiveness Summit in Chicago last year. Visit SkillTV.net section In Crisis Comes Opportunity to view this interesting discussion.

Fusing Forward

2009-01-29T09:31:00.002-05:00

Believe it or not despite the economic downturn, there is still a serious shortfall of over 250,000 welders. Last fall, Joel Leonard visited Lincoln Electric's welding school and got to see first hand how they are developing a new generation of skilled welders.

Above is 18 year old Seth Cogley, who not only demonstrates his skills on SkillTV.net but also his interesting story. He got interested in welding by watching a Discovery Channel story on welding when he was only 13 years old. He convinced his family to buy him a welding kit for his birthday and welding ever since. He is delighted that now he is getting formal education and has already received numerous job offers. Check out more on SkillTV leveraging your skills section at www.SkillTV.net

New Look on SkillTV.net

2009-01-27T11:43:00.005-05:00

The team at Putman Media has been working very hard to make the information on SkillTV.net easier to access and leverage. As you know in the computer world, it is very hard to make a user interface easy. We are continuing to work to not only gather valuable information for our viewers, but also working hard to make it more accessible and powerful for you as well.

Hope you enjoy the changes and if you have any suggestions, please forward to Joel@SkillTV.net.

Clint Up America!

2009-01-10T16:09:00.004-05:00

Wow! You must get out and see Clint Eastwood's latest movie. It is literally like watching Dirty Harry, Archie Bunker and Sean Connery from Finding Forester, all in the same movie. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gran_Torino_(film)

After the passing of Eric Bergtraun, I am feeling very concerned that more retirees need to Clint Up and reach out to future generations to help them Man Up and keep them out of gangs and personally teach them skills to fix up America.

Nature versus Nurture

2009-01-08T09:38:00.005-05:00

The recent storms are causing havoc in nature. It appears that wind gusts thrust an eagles nest off of the mountainside. Several of the eggs were cracked and the embryos died. However, one of the eggs fell down the mountainside near a free range chicken farm. One of hens sat on the egg and after several days hatched a newborn eagle.

The hen took the eagle in and treated it as her own. She raised it like the other chickens. Soon the eagle grew and looked above and saw a flock of eagles fly by. It wondered if it could soar like the eagles. However, the chickens quickly corrected him and told him that he would always be a chicken.

Later, that eagle grew to believe that he would never become an eagle and never tried to fly, or become as truly was, an eagle. After several years, he died living a life as a chicken.

So this story goes to show us: we can either soar with the eagles as nature intended us, or we can listen to a bunch of chickens and never stretch our wings and fly!

So the question is: what are you going to do this year?

Are you going to fly or just get by and be as miserable as everyone else?

The choice is ours to make.

Who will fill Eric's shoes?

2009-01-07T10:56:00.008-05:00

Just got word that AFE Fellow, Eric Bergtraun passed on Dec 27th of 2008. A holocaust survivor, plant engineer and long time mentor to numerous generations of Facilities and Plant Engineering leaders, Eric Bergtraun will be sorely missed.

http://www.engr.sjsu.edu/students/scholarships/bergtraun

This small man with a very large heart, was famous for not mincing words and challenging others to pay it forward to future generations of engineers. http://www.rickshaw.org/bergtraun_bio.htm

As more of the boomer generation retire, we need more retirees to step up like Eric did and provide leadership, mentorship and guidance to future generations.

And as Eric would passionately proclaim, "if we don't fix it now, what are we STUUUUPID!?!"

We need lots more future talent and more need to realize that they too can pitch in and fix it forward and pave the pathways that leaders like Eric Bergtraun blazed for us.

http://www.legacy.com/MercuryNews/gb/GuestBookView.aspx?personID=122064749&eid=viewgb_10709

Is Hollywood finally listening?

2008-12-28T20:34:00.003-05:00

For years, Joel Leonard has been complaining about the depiction of maintenance workers in movies. However, after seeing a couple of recent Christmas releases, Joel is wondering if someone in Hollywood is finally getting the message.

Believe it or not, in the Disney Movie, "Bedtime Stories", Adam Sandler plays a maintenance worker at a hotel. He overcomes being taken for granted and branded as loser, only to win the girl, Kerry Russel, and also own his own hotel. By the way, his character's name is Skeeter.

In the new Will Smith movie, "Seven Pounds", Will plays an MIT graduate who wins his girls heart by fixing a 150 year old Heidelburg Press.

Plus with cable shows "Dirty Jobs", "How Its Made" and "The Big Fix", it appears that Hollywood is finally listening that we need to show more respect to skilled workers.

News Break: More Maintenance Crisis Song Versions in the works

2008-12-23T08:33:00.003-05:00

While in Dubai, Joel Leonard shared with Middle East Maintenance Managers Conference the Maintenance Crisis Songs. Several oil refineries, water desalinization plants maintenance leadership loved the songs. So much so that they have offered to translate the lyrics into Arabic and locate Arabic musicians to record an Arabic Version of the song.

As Joel said over 6 years ago, the Maintenance Crisis Song has no borders, the message affects us all so everyone needs to hear it. Therefore, he is delighted that they are willing to exert the effort to join in the crusade against the Maintenance Crisis.

Also in the JW Marriott Hotel was a German restaurant that had live musicians from Berlin performing to entertain the diners. They too, have offered to perform a Polka version of the song. So the message continues to grow and expand so that more efforts to fix it forward are mobilized.

Super Maintenance Heroes- Here they are to save the day!

2008-12-20T15:17:00.002-05:00

After hearing the process that the Saudi Water Conversion Corp implemented to improve their efficiency and performance of their 30 water desalination plants, Joel Leonard provided Director Abdullah M. Al Khedher a new SkillTV Shirt for him to wear with pride when he returns back to work. Joel feels that is very important that industry recognizes top engineering/maintenance performers as many don't receive recognition in their own companies.

The Hidden Heroes of the Middle East

2008-12-20T13:54:00.003-05:00

Millions of people who live in the Middle East actually live in a desert. And without water, there is no life. Therefore, those who run and maintain the water desalination plants deserve lots of praise and support for their efforts. Especially when they implement enterprise asset management (EAM) that normally take 9-18 months to set up in just 3 months. Joel Leonard sat down with leaders of the Saudi Water Commission and Datastream Arabia and learned how they were able to implement this comprehensive application in a very short period time.

Bye, Bye Dubai

2008-12-16T18:39:00.002-05:00

Joel Leonard regrets that he has not had time to provide continual updates of his wonderful trip into Dubai, but will be sharing, pictures, videos and information collected in future articles, blogs and videos.

Joel was actually quite apprehensive about coming to the Middle East with all of the news reports and daily barrage of negative activities. He said this is a totally different world than America. However, when the attending engineers started divulging their frustrations about maintenance not getting respect, maintenance being a target when in an economic downturn, that maintenance people need more training and finding qualified resources is difficule, Joel realized well maybe a different part of the world but in the maintenance world it is absolutely the same the world over.

He was flattered to learn that new facilities director at the Malaysian airport came to this event just to hear him and has been following his articles in Plant Services Magazine and really is excited to implement these strategies.

Still wondering who that was?

2008-12-13T10:35:00.003-05:00

Yes, that is Joel Leonard, host of SkillTV and international maintenance evangelist. They had a hard time finding a headset to fit him. He is really enjoying sampling the local culture, food, drinks and making friends from all over the world. Met several phillipino, indian, and others today. Joel wants to make sure that all of his friends and family know that he is safe and having a blast. Only wishes that too were able to join him. Tomorrow is a big day for Joel as he is going to be leading a day long discussion on Strategic Maintenance and how to incorporate maintenance into long term business performance strategies with over 20 Middle Eastern engineers. He is excited to be able to learn some of their processes and share the resources and information to help them elevate their peformance and status levels here and to perhaps help drive down the cost of oil even more!