Jim Thompson

Email Jim at jim.thompson@ipulpmedia.com

This is maintenance month, and I thought I would start off talking about the kinds of people that make ideal maintenance employees, from managers to the lowliest newbies. This will not completely fix maintenance problems, for idiots higher up in the organization can withhold vital maintenance dollars to protect their bonuses, but if you can get by them, this is a good place to start.

There are two kinds of backgrounds that I have found to be outstanding for maintenance employees. Again, this is for any level. On the surface, I would take either one of these over someone who has worked in another pulp and paper mill where they may have picked up bad habits. There are certainly plenty of bad habits out there.

People who have maintenance experience on ships (Navy, freighters, cruise ships) or in hospitals (especially maintaining operating rooms) have the best habits. Ship experience (submariners are the best) have limited tools, limited space and MUST keep vital systems running at all times. They have a laser focused attention to details and timeliness.

Hospital maintenance people are similar, especially those that maintain operating rooms. Lives are at stake, and, again, they have a laser focus on details and timeliness.

When you are interviewing maintenance people, pay particular attention to their hobbies, something I would not tell you to do for any other positions. People interested in cars (mechanical) or sound systems (electrical/electronic) or do all their own repairs at home are likely to be winners. Also, people who have built a house (themselves, not with a contractor) or own a boat (the bigger the better). Part-time farmers or previous farm experience is a plus, too.

Then, when you are nearly done with the interview and you are thinking about hiring them, ask them if they will take you to the parking lot to look at their car/truck. Someone who drives a neat and orderly car or truck (I don't care how old it is or how much rust it has) is a winner. If they have made modifications to their vehicle and will enthusiastically talk about them, all the better. Converting mechanical ignition systems to electronic is a gigantic plus. Also, look at the tires.

If they won't agree to let me look at their vehicle, they are going to have to be very outstanding in other ways in order to be considered to work for me.

By the way, the car inspection trick works for all applicants for all jobs. If your position is other than maintenance, you are just looking for neat and orderly. You can't run a neat and orderly mill with a staff that lives like pigs the rest of the time.

Be safe and we will talk next week.

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