Gratitude, Growth, and Guarding the Night: Diary Entry - 21st March 2025

Morning Prayer: The Power of Gratitude

Today's morning meeting began with a simple yet powerful prayer by one of our workmen—a prayer of gratitude, thanking God for all that we have.

It was a beautiful reminder that we often take our blessings for granted. We are fit and healthy—many are not. We have stable jobs—many struggle every day. Gratitude is not just about acknowledging what we have; it’s about recognizing the responsibility that comes with it. If we are privileged, we must do our best.

Trainees’ Journey Ends, New Beginnings Await

Today marked the last day of training for our trainees. We wished them well as they prepared to step into the real world of cement manufacturing. There were smiles, good wishes, selfies, and group photos—capturing the bond built over the past three months. Training is not just about learning skills; it’s about shaping the right mindset. I hope they carry forward what they learned here—not just about machines but about discipline, teamwork, and perseverance.

The Never-Ending Fight Against Dust

At the cooler discharge area, the air was thick with dust. Too much dust. Why? I asked, already knowing the reply—"Kiln is disturbed."

I wasn't satisfied with that answer. Even if the kiln is disturbed, the dusting should not be this extreme. Something else had to be wrong. And I was right—the malfunctioning of discharge gates was the real issue. Once fixed, the dusting reduced.

This is where we fail repeatedly. People accept problems as they are, without questioning or fixing the root cause. If something is wrong, find out why. Solve it. Stop normalizing inefficiencies.

A Small Change, A Big Improvement

While one area had unnecessary dust, another had just seen a major improvement. The ESP discharge area was transformed after we modified the last chain conveyor’s discharge.

The dust of ESP used to discharge into the drag chain of the cooler through the chain conveyor.

The drag chain conveyor of the cooler was always pressurized and its back pressure used to pressurize the chain conveyors of ESP as well. Due to which all the chain conveyors of ESP were always found filled with dust and spillage used to happen.

We extended the last chain conveyor, that is, its discharge which was happening in the drag chain of the cooler was stopped. Now we have given the discharge of that chain conveyor directly to the DPC by installing a small screw conveyor, now no pressurization is happening. A simple, logical change—big impact.

Now, the area is clean, the problem is solved, and the working environment is better for everyone. The right action brings results—always. I made sure to appreciate the Mechanical team for this excellent work.

ISO Audit Continues

The external ISO audit is ongoing. It’s just another reminder that systems should be audit-ready every day—not just for the auditors.

Night Vigilance: Strengthening Our Watch

Later, I had a meeting with the Vigilance Officers who were on duty last night. After our discussion, I sent a clear message to our group:

We all know how critical night vigilance is. Theft, safety risks, unauthorized movements—all of these increase when the plant is asleep. We are committed to improving night vigilance, step by step.

I laid out a few key instructions:

✔ No Arguments: If someone questions or challenges the vigilance officers, their only reply should be—"Whatever you want to say, come to the General Manager's office tomorrow at 2:00 pm." No discussions, no debates.

✔ Security Guard Mapping: Every vigilance officer should have a list of which security guards are posted where.

✔ Workforce Tracking: Every department must provide a list of how many people are working in the night shift and where.

✔ SQP + CLTI: While taking rounds, officers must focus on:

• S = Safety
• Q = Quality
• P = Productivity
• CLTI = Cleaning - Lubrication - Tightening - Inspection

This simple formula will help them identify near-misses and abnormalities. The more we document, the stronger our vigilance becomes. A checklist will further improve effectiveness.

I also hinted at a very simple but highly effective trick for vigilance officers. I will share it with them soon.

A Conversation That Stays With You

Later in the day, I had a long discussion with a senior person—a mentor, a rare breed of professional. You don’t find such simple and straightforward people in the industry anymore.

Though he is much older than me, I still share some practical ideas with him. We are in the same league in terms of professionalism, but he is a step ahead. And because of that, he has been exploited a lot. It is unfortunate how industries sometimes take the best people for granted.

I will do something. Now.

Final Thought: Small Steps, Big Impact

• Gratitude gives us perspective.
• Training shapes the future.
• Small changes in operations create lasting improvements.
• Vigilance is essential for safety, security, and efficiency.
• True professionals deserve better.

One day at a time, one problem at a time—we keep moving forward. 

[Earlier this area was always full of dust and it was difficult to even go there]

Next Day - 22nd March, 2025

Previous Day - 20th March, 2025