In this episode of The Maintainers, hosts David Lee and Jake Hall chat with Rafael Padilha Gama, AKA Rafa, the U.S. and Canada Maintenance and Reliability Director at Ingredion. Rafa shares his extensive background in the maintenance and reliability industry, including his roles at InBev and Unilever. He discusses his journey from electrical electronics in Brazil to handling global operations, bringing a wealth of insights into maintenance, reliability, and automation practices across diverse industries and geographies. Rafa emphasizes the blend of technical expertise and leadership needed in effective maintenance roles. He believes the critical aspects include having the right people, robust processes, and utilizing appropriate tools. Rafa’s philosophy of focusing on what one can control and improving what they have autonomy over is central to his approach. He provides examples of how successful maintenance programs can enhance operational efficiencies, such as using asset criticality concepts to unlock bottlenecks and employing technology like sensors to improve predictive maintenance. The discussion also touches on cultural challenges and communication strategies necessary for managing teams across different countries. Rafa finds value in ensuring that the message delivered is precisely the message received, especially while dealing with diverse cultures from Brazil to Colombia to the United States. His effective communication practices help ensure alignment and consistency across various teams and operations. Finally, Rafa talks about the future of factories, highlighting the increasing role of technology and data in maintenance and reliability. He envisions a future where maintenance professionals become data scientists, utilizing AI and smart sensors to foresee and prevent failures. Rafa’s insights serve as useful guidelines for listeners who strive to drive change and adopt innovative technologies in their maintenance practices.—Guest BioRafael Padilha Gama boasts decades of experience in the maintenance and reliability industry. He currently serves as the U.S. and Canada Maintenance and Reliability Director at Ingredion, a global manufacturer of ingredients and solutions. Rafael has a rich background in electrical electronics and automation, with an impressive career including notable stints at InBev and Unilever, where he honed his expertise in automation, maintenance, and reliability. Rafael is passionate about optimizing maintenance processes and leveraging technology to enhance industrial efficiency. His philosophy centers on continuous improvement, leadership, and leveraging technology to enhance maintenance and reliability processes.—Guest Quote“Every time I had a problem, I said, 'What am I going to do to not have this problem again?'  I hate having the same problems twice or more. So the first [solution] is reliability. Maintenance & reliability is not only technical, it's a lot of leadership. You need to have the right people in the right place” – Rafael Padilha Gama—Time Stamps 00:00 Episode Start 02:30 Opening Icebreaker03:20 Rafael's Background04:25 Segment 01: The Maintainer Mashup04:40 What is Ingredion?07:05 How Rafael and his team ensure all 40 facilities operate on the same standards09:30 Setting a high bar for yourself12:15 Proving the power of maintenance and reliability15:50 Segment 02: What's in Your Toolkit?16:25 What sets Rafael apart20:05 The importance of good communication23:30 Tips for implementing new initiatives and earning buy-in27:20 Segment 03: The Future of Factories28:20 Why Ingredion leverages Tractian33:50 The evolution of maintenance routes38:00 Empowering workers with technology40:30 Segment 04: Fix It Funnies—LinksConnect with Rafael Padilha Gama on LinkedInCheck out IngredionConnect with David Lee on LinkedInConnect with Jake Hall on LinkedInLearn more about Tractian

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