Industrial Talk is onsite at SMRP 2025 and talking to Tara Holwegner, Program Leader at Life Cycle Engineering about "Training is key to reliability success".

Overview

Scott Mackenzie from Industrial Talk interviews Tara Holwegner at the SMRP conference, highlighting IRISS electrical maintenance safety technologies and Lifecycle Engineering's 20-year history in training industrial professionals. Tara discusses the importance of upskilling, reskilling, and training, noting that 25% of respondents to her poll prioritize these issues. She emphasizes the need for a balanced approach to people, process, and technology. Tara also promotes Lifecycle Engineering's Smarter Playbook, which offers resources in five languages and six work streams, aiming to standardize best practices in maintenance and reliability.

Outline

Introduction and Welcome to Industrial Talk Podcast

Scott Mackenzie introduces himself and the Industrial Talk podcast, emphasizing its focus on industry professionals and innovations.
Scott welcomes listeners to the podcast, highlighting the importance of celebrating industry professionals.
Scott mentions being at the SMRP conference and introduces Tara Holwegner, a recurring guest on the podcast.
Tara expresses her excitement about being back at the SMRP conference and shares her background with Lifecycle Engineering.

Tara's Background and Lifecycle Engineering

Tara explains her role at Lifecycle Engineering, an engineering, maintenance, and reliability consulting firm.
She mentions the Lifecycle Institute, which has been training industrial professionals for 20 years.
Tara shares her certifications: CMRP, CRO, PMP, and her role as a certified instructional designer.
She discusses the importance of building products and services to help professionals reach their full potential in the industry.

Challenges and Focus Areas for 2025

Tara shares the results of a poll she conducted about the challenges and struggles professionals will face in the new year.
The poll results indicate that upskilling, reskilling, or training is a significant concern for 25% of respondents.
Standard work and process optimization, technology additions, and CMMS data integrity are also key areas of focus.
Scott and Tara discuss the importance of addressing these challenges to improve reliability and efficiency in the industry.

Importance of People, Process, and Technology

Scott and Tara emphasize the need to focus on people, process, and technology to achieve reliable operations.
Tara highlights the importance of getting the people and processes right before implementing technology.
They discuss the role of technology in attracting new talent and the need for public-private partnerships to build interest in the industry.
Scott and Tara agree on the importance of storytelling to inspire the next generation of industry professionals.

Lifecycle Engineering's Smarter Playbook

Tara introduces the Lifecycle Engineering Smarter Playbook, which provides best practices for maintenance and reliability.
The playbook includes resources in five languages and covers six work streams with over 400 online resources.
Tara mentions the expansion of the playbook to include eight online courses by the end of the year.
She explains the playbook's role in helping organizations understand the value of reliable operations and standard work.

Operational Readiness and Capital Projects

Tara discusses the importance of operational readiness, especially for organizations undertaking large-scale capital projects.
She explains the need for designing reliability into new assets and having maintenance plans for the life of the asset.
Tara highlights the role of Lifecycle Engineering in helping organizations achieve operational readiness.
Scott and Tara discuss the challenges of sustaining reliability and the need for active leadership and commitment.

The Role of Leadership and Collaboration

Scott and Tara discuss the challenges of leadership churn and the need for consistent commitment to reliability.
They emphasize the importance of collaboration and finding trusted advisors to help organizations succeed.
Tara shares her experience of Lifecycle Engineering's commitment to helping clients even after projects are completed.
They agree on the need for a broad understanding of reliability and maintenance across different roles within an organization.

The Importance of Education and Training

Tara stresses the importance of continuous education and training for professionals in the industry.
She highlights the increased demand for certification programs and the need for organizations to invest in their employees' growth.
Scott and Tara discuss the role of technology in enhancing training and education.
They emphasize the need for a comprehensive approach to training, covering all levels of an organization.

Conclusion and Call to Action

Scott and Tara wrap up the conversation by emphasizing the importance of the SMRP conference for industry professionals.
They encourage listeners to connect with Tara and other industry experts to learn and collaborate.
Scott highlights the role of Industrial Talk in helping organizations tell their stories and succeed.
They conclude by encouraging listeners to be bold, brave, and daring in their approach to industry challenges.

If interested in being on the Industrial Talk show, simply contact us and let's have a quick conversation. Finally, get your exclusive free access to the Industrial Academy and a series on “Why You Need To Podcast” for Greater Success in 2026. All links designed for keeping you current in this rapidly changing Industrial Market. Learn! Grow! Enjoy!

TARA HOLWEGNER'S CONTACT INFORMATION:

Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taradenton/ Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/life-cycle-engineering/posts/?feedView=all Company Website: https://www.lce.com/

PODCAST VIDEO:

https://youtu.be/VAmsGWFdNQU

THE STRATEGIC REASON "WHY YOU NEED TO PODCAST":

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