Martin: So, you’re saying then that the cost of the tools as it was as in LUBExpert being hardware and software, that actually it is relatively low cost by comparison to the cost of things that could go wrong without it and, therefore, one is tempted to say it might, you know: “maybe, is actually quite cheap.”
Haris: Well, “cheap” is the word you were avoiding saying and I do the same thing. The cost, the evaluation of investment always needs to be put in comparison with what it stops, what it prevents. So, in our case, and I am sure you know it much better than I do, that proper lubrication technology is one time investment that is less than 1/10 of one problem it resolves. Some say cheap, but “reasonable” sounds good.
Martin: So, it sounds more like a very low annual premium in terms of insurance cost. It’s a very small price to pay to insure against loss.
Haris: Absolutely! That’s a very good comparison! How do you always end up with cars?
Martin: It’s not just cars that have insurance. Ok, so, if you’ve invested in this hardware and software, what’s next, what goes next with that then, in your experience? Cause, I know where I would go with it, but where do you see it going?
Haris: So, if I count to three and we say it together, I am absolutely sure we will say the same thing! So, One – Two – Three:
Haris & Martin: Training!!!
Haris: Training! I know that so many people, more and more, try to wish the problems away by using something which is plug’n’play, just plug it here and go away and it will all work fine. But it will not work fine, that kind of solution exists only in dreams. It’s a silver bullet, call it any way you want Team needs to go through training, not just to know how to push the buttons, but to know how to sustain the change, how to sustain the program.
Martin: Oh absolutely, there is no such thing as instant cure, as many people would wish. And that is often a problem we all run up against, “we had a training so we’re good, we’re good to go”. As you say, there is fine tuning of the program, adjustments that need to be made. And then these things often don’t work, and we see sometimes these tools end up as what might be turned as shelve ware gathering dust at the back of the cupboard, sitting there, you know … What would be different here, what could we do to prevent that situation?
Haris: Well, first of all, proper training means not only pushing the buttons, it’s about how to sustain the program, how to build the strategy, how to steer it and how to keep it. When I say keep it, I mean how to keep management support. That means we have to be able to generate results and to be able to report them properly. But if things go south … that’s why we are here, people like us, you: to remove the roadblocks and, if necessary, to support even in later stages.
Martin: So, when we talk about LUBExpert, the instrument and software, how do you provide that level of support then?
Haris: Talking about LUBExpert, we can talk for several hours, but let’s go from the beginning, from the interface between machine and technology, and that’s the sensor. Most people who deal with lubrication don’t like to go deep into it, but it’s quite important because it’s a contact with asset. High quality and calibrated sensor are very important. All that happens after that moment, depends on quality of collected data, so if your data is garbage, that’s exactly what your decision is going to be. What you see with any technology, and that works for absolutely any technology, is not what actually happens – it’s what your sensor “feels”. So, if you’re talking about vibration, oil analysis or whatever else, what your sensor “feels”, that is what you see. And once you get correct data, then number three becomes quite important. When I say number 3, I am talking about 3rd generation of LUBExpert and the brain inside, because it’s getting more and more clever.
Martin: Just how clever?
Haris: Clever enough for me to be very confident telling Lube technician: Please follow the instructions!
Martin: Right, ok… cause, sometimes blindly following instructions isn’t always best, we sometimes need some ability to decide when maybe those instructions need to be reviewed. So, you’ll need to convince me on this one: “just blindly following instructions”.
Haris: I saw this coming. I saw this coming. But do you know what it means? Few more ice creams and few more coffees…
Martin: Totally!
Haris: So, let’s get the supplies and meet here next Monday to continue with this.
Martin: That’s a deal, see you on Monday!
Haris: See you on Monday, bye!
