Scott MacKenzie and Brian Hronchek discuss the importance of people in industrial innovation and the challenges faced in the reliability, maintenance, and asset management sectors. Brian shares his background, including his service in the Marines and transition to the reliability field at US Steel. They highlight the disconnect between the availability of technology and the lack of trained personnel, attributing it to a shift in corporate focus from employees and customers to shareholders in the 1970s. Brian emphasizes that investing in employee training and development can increase retention and productivity. They conclude that a cultural shift towards valuing people is crucial for long-term success in industry.

Action Items

• [ ] Connect with Brian Hronchek on LinkedIn.
• [ ] Highlight Brian's company Eruditio or solutions on the industrial talk podcast.
• [ ] Attend the next SMRP conference for asset management, maintenance, and reliability professionals.

Outline

Introduction and Conference Overview

• Scott MacKenzie welcomes listeners to the Industrial Talk podcast, emphasizing the focus on industrial professionals and their innovations.
• Scott highlights the current location at SMRP's 31st annual conference, noting the significant presence of technology and people.
• Scott encourages listeners to visit smrp.org for resources related to reliability, maintenance, and asset management.
• Scott introduces Brian Hronchek, who is attending the conference for the first time, and asks for his first impression.

Brian Hronchek's Background and Military Experience

• Brian shares his professional journey, starting with his service in the Marines from 1997 to 2007, where he worked on F-18 aircraft.
• Brian met his wife, an engine mechanic, during his time in the Marines, and they started a family in 2000.
• Brian was selected for an officer program and attended Purdue University, where he earned an aerospace engineering degree.
• Brian's military experience, particularly in the infantry, helped him develop strong people skills, which he later applied in the reliability profession.

Transition to Reliability and Industry Challenges

• Brian discusses his transition to Exelon as a maintenance manager, where he was introduced to reliability but found it poorly implemented.
• Brian applied for a reliability position at US Steel and quickly realized the importance of reliability principles, which aligned with his military experience.
• Scott and Brian discuss the challenges of embracing reliability and asset management within organizations, emphasizing the need for continuous education.
• Brian explains the root cause of these challenges, tracing it back to the shift in corporate focus from employees and customers to shareholders in the 1970s.

Impact of Corporate Focus on Training and Maintenance

• Brian attributes the decline in training and maintenance to the influence of Milton Friedman and the shift towards shareholder focus.
• Scott shares a personal experience of a company going public and the immediate change in focus from customers to shareholders.
• Brian and Scott discuss the disconnect between the need for trained personnel and the reluctance of organizations to invest in training and retention.
• Brian emphasizes the importance of understanding where real value is created, such as job planning