Championing Change in Manufacturing with John Davis, Vice President at American Wood Fibers

Welcome to this week’s episode of The Maintainers, where today’s special guest is John Davis, the Vice President at American Wood Fibers (AWF). John, boasting an impressive work history, started working on engines at the age of 10 and later managed an entire campus consisting of more than 40 buildings at Sun Microsystems. Today, he plays a significant role at AWF, the industry leader in wood shavings, wood flour, and pet bedding products.

An important focus of the discussion is John’s experience in the implementation and management of automation. He shares valuable insights on how initiating change to automate operations can be met with resistance due to differing perspectives on immediate costs and technical difficulties. However, John asserts that getting everyone on the same page before the project starts is crucial. To do this, an effective communication strategy for different groups, from the CFO to the operations manager, is necessary.

When discussing the maintenance aspect, the conversation delves into the complexities faced in maintaining factories when equipment uptime is paramount. John emphasizes that better utilization of technology -- for tracking, monitoring, and effectively responding to machinery issues -- is crucial. The roles of performance monitoring and predictive analysis in managing maintenance are highlighted. These facets, coupled with an emphasis on safety protocols, can significantly impact the efficiency and productivity of factory operations.

Podcast - The Maintainers