Industrial Talk is onsite at Xcelerate 2026 and talking to Will Ocean, Managing Director with Maintain Reliability about "Operational success starts with reliability".

The conversation revolves around the Fluke Xcelerate 2026 event, which focused on reliability, predictive maintenance, and AI diagnostics. Scott MacKenzie, the host of the Industrial Talk Podcast, interviews Will Ocean, a Managing Director at Maintain Reliability, about the importance of culture and technology in industrial operations. They discuss the challenges of implementing reliability strategies, the need for mentorship and training, and the difficulty of measuring the ROI of preventive measures. Will emphasizes the importance of a cultural shift towards reliability and the role of thought leaders in inspiring and educating the next generation of industry professionals.

Outline

Fluke's Xcelerate Event Overview

Scott introduces the Fluke's Xcelerate event, highlighting its focus on reliability and innovation.
The event featured high-energy keynotes, hands-on predictive maintenance tools, and AI diagnostic breakthroughs.
Scott emphasizes the event's real-world strategies that teams can implement immediately.
The event is described as a launch pad for smarter, faster, and more reliable operations.

Introduction to the Industrial Talk Podcast

Scott welcomes listeners to the Industrial Talk Podcast, celebrating industry professionals worldwide.
The podcast aims to highlight the bravery, innovation, and problem-solving skills of industry professionals.
Scott mentions the importance of celebrating industry heroes and their contributions to making the world a better place.

Meeting Will Ocean and Initial Impressions

Scott introduces Will Ocean, a legend in the industry, and mentions his great accent.
Will Ocean expresses gratitude for being invited and shares a light-hearted moment about never bringing Scott to England.
The conversation touches on the positive energy and culture at the Xcelerate event.
Will Ocean discusses the importance of resonance and the positive energy felt at the event, emphasizing the passion and importance of the topics discussed.

The Importance of Passion and Mentorship

Will Ocean talks about the passion and drive behind thought leadership at the event, highlighting the involvement of apprentices.
He emphasizes the importance of mentorship and inspiring people, sharing his own experience with the Reliability Gang podcast.
Scott agrees on the need to inspire the next generation of leaders and the importance of telling industry stories.
Will Ocean discusses the challenges of sharing knowledge and the skills gap in the industry, advocating for making industry conversations accessible and relatable.

Cultural and Technological Challenges in Industry

Scott and Will Ocean discuss the cultural challenges in the industry, particularly the slow pace of cultural change compared to technological advancements.
Will Ocean uses the analogy of going to the gym to explain the long-term effort required to change industry culture.
They discuss the importance of having the right conversations and the need for patience and empathy in cultural change.
Will Ocean highlights the need for thought leaders to spread awareness and empathy, and the importance of understanding the conditioning of experienced industry professionals.

Will Ocean's Background and Maintain Reliability

Will Ocean shares his background, starting in the electric and mechanical trades and moving to condition monitoring and vibration analysis.
He discusses the transition from being a problem giver to a solutions provider and the importance of understanding the root cause of problems.
Will Ocean emphasizes the need for a roadmap to address gaps within organizations and the importance of adding value first.
He shares his experience with Maintain Reliability, focusing on the importance of tools, training, and progression for employees.

The Role of Culture in Sustaining Reliability

Will Ocean discusses the importance of reliability being ingrained in the culture of an organization.
He highlights the challenges of sustaining reliability when senior leadership changes and the need for a strong culture to support long-term goals.
Scott and Will Ocean discuss the difficulty of measuring the return on investment for reliability efforts that prevent failures.
Will Ocean emphasizes the need for awareness and a long-term vision for the plant, advocating for a marathon approach to reliability.

The Importance of Problem-Solving and Adaptability

Will Ocean discusses the importance of problem-solving and the need for flexibility in roadmaps for different organizations.
He shares an example of a manufacturing facility using diagnostic equipment without a clear plan, highlighting the need for proper utilization of tools.
Will Ocean emphasizes the importance of addressing gaps and adding value first, using a roadmap tailored to the specific needs of the organization.
He discusses the challenges of measuring the value of reliability efforts that prevent failures and the need for a cultural shift to see reliability as a long-term investment.

Future Excitement and Contact Information

Scott asks Will Ocean about what excites him in the industry, and Will Ocean expresses his passion for spreading the word of reliability and inspiring people.
Will Ocean shares his contact information, encouraging listeners to follow him on the Reliability Gang podcast and connect with him on LinkedIn.
Scott praises Will Ocean's high "beer factor," describing him as passionate, skilled, and a great person to hang out with.
The conversation concludes with a reminder to follow Will Ocean and attend the Xcelerate event, emphasizing the importance of people and conversations in the industry.

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!

WILL OCEAN'S CONTACT INFORMATION:

Personal LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willocean/ Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/maintainreliability/posts/?feedView=all

PODCAST VIDEO:

https://youtu.be/nKUB5KV4oL8

THE STRATEGIC REASON "WHY YOU NEED TO PODCAST":

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Will Ocean with Maintain Reliability