Barriers, Breakthroughs, and a Hattrick of Rain: Key takeaways and happenings - 18th March, 2025

Morning Begins with a Blockade

The day started on a frustrating note—OTR blocked all incoming and outgoing movement of our plant.

I stood at the gate, watching. A plant must breathe—materials must flow in, cement must flow out. But today, everything was frozen.

Let’s see how this unfolds.

A Small Journey, A Big Question

My driver had to go to Lomé for some vehicle-related document renewal.
But with roads blocked, I wondered:

💭 How much fuel will be wasted today?

Some losses are obvious—like shutdowns and breakdowns. Others, like unplanned fuel wastage, quietly eat into efficiency.

Morning Meeting: The Power of Reporting

Despite the roadblock, the morning meeting started on a positive note.

I recited:
"Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinaha, Sarve Santu Niramayah..."
(May all be happy, may all be free from illness...)

I explained its meaning—happiness and safety are interconnected.

Then, I spoke about Reporting—the 5th and most important cardinal rule of safety.

📌 A near-miss, an unsafe act, a hazard—if not reported, it remains a ticking time bomb.

Safety improves only when people speak up and take ownership.

I ended with one simple instruction: DO IT.

A Gimbal’s Lesson in Value

Finally, I restarted using my gimbal today.

Last month, I lost its mobile holder. Without it, the entire gimbal—worth ₹7000 INR—became useless.

Ghanshyam Ji brought a new one from India.
✅ Online price: ₹4000 INR
✅ Retail shop price: ₹3000 INR

This tiny 50-gram piece controlled the fate of a 1000-gram device loaded with software and mechanisms.

💡 A small, missing part can render even the most advanced system useless.
Isn’t that true for people too? The smallest role, if missing, can cripple an entire organization.

Theft & Negligence Reports: No Case Goes Unreported

Today, I reviewed the Theft Incident Report & SOP and the Negligence Incident Report & SOP.

Every single case must be reported.

A plant runs on trust and discipline. If theft and negligence go unchecked, they spread like an infection.

Rule: The moment you tolerate one, you invite a hundred more.

Identifying the ‘Nicest’ Problem in a Sick Plant

Whenever I join a non-performing plant, I always find:
✅ A very good, old person in a higher position.
✅ Everyone loves him.
✅ But he is good for nothing.

Why is he so loved?
Because he lets people do whatever they want—except the real work.

📌 Identifying such a person is easy. But removing their influence is the real challenge.

And the worst thing for a Plant Head?
Being hated.

Yes, many times, doing the right thing makes you the least popular person in the room.

What does it mean?
💡 It means you’re shaking up the system. It means you’re making a difference.

Read more about it: https://sawanjasoliya.blogspot.com/2025/03/the-nice-problem-why-non-performing.html

A Screw Failure, A Bigger Truth

The plant stopped again today due to a simple screw failure.

A minor stoppage, but a major reflection of our maintenance practices.

📌 A well-maintained plant does not stop because of a screw.
📌 A well-maintained organization does not fail because of one person.

This is where our real work lies.

Wearing Local, Feeling Local

Today, I received my first local dress from the tailor.
I tried it on—it looked great!

📸 Selfies and office photos followed.

It’s more than just a dress.
It’s a way of embracing the culture, blending in, and respecting the place I now call home.

A Dark Cloud & A Hattrick of Rain

At 4:30 PM, a dark cloud covered the plant.

Then came the rain.
A third consecutive day of showers.

It was a relief. A cooling embrace from nature after weeks of heat.
And maybe, a sign—things must change, and they will.

Night Vigilance: Learning from the Best

Night vigilance continued, but it needs to be more effective.

Tonight, I met the officers personally.
I showed them a picture of our PDG Sir and said:

📌 "Do the night vigilance assuming how he would do it."

Their faces lit up instantly.
The message was received without another word.

A Small Tech Improvement

I added LinkedIn, Facebook, and WhatsApp links to my blog, making it easier for visitors to share content.

My basic knowledge of HTML & CSS always comes in handy.
Even the smallest improvements can increase reach and engagement.

March 18th: A Day of Challenges & Clarity

🚧 Roadblocks—but we will move forward.
🛠 Failures—but we will fix them.
🌧 Dark clouds—but also rain, relief, and renewal.

Every day reveals something new.
Every day takes us one step closer to turning this plant around.

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