Over the last few years, I've noticed many facility organizations have no shortage of data, reports, CMMS records, SOPs, or work orders.
Yet critical operational knowledge still walks out the door when experienced personnel retire, transfer, or leave.
In many cases, the information exists.
The reasoning behind decisions does not.
Examples I've encountered include:
• Equipment operating outside design parameters for years with no documented explanation
• Temporary fixes becoming permanent operating procedures
• Critical vendor relationships known by only one individual
• Major capital decisions with no preserved decision history
• New personnel repeating investigations that were already completed years earlier
I'm curious:
What operational knowledge is your organization most at risk of losing today?
Is it:
- Asset knowledge?
- Maintenance knowledge?
- Vendor knowledge?
- Regulatory/compliance knowledge?
- Institutional history?
- Something else?
Interested in hearing how others are approaching this challenge.
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Razzell Valentine
Student
Western Governs University
Newark NJ
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