Lessons from a Lone Tree and a Stormy Afternoon
A Curious Sight in the Green Belt
During my plant round today, something caught my eye—a single oleander tree, standing tall inside a dense green belt of eucalyptus trees.
It must have been planted there by mistake. Or maybe it found its way on its own.
But what’s striking is its height—as if it’s competing with the eucalyptus, trying to prove that it belongs, even though it wasn’t meant to be there. Survival. Growth. Adaptation.
Is this the Miyawaki effect? The principle that trees planted in dense clusters push each other to grow faster and stronger? Maybe. Or maybe it’s just a sign that nature doesn’t always follow human plans—it makes its own.
A lone fighter in an unfamiliar environment, thriving against the odds. There’s a lesson in that.
The Hidden Problem with Standby Equipment
Many believe that standby equipment is the solution to breakdowns. I disagree.
Standby equipment is not a solution—it is a delayed problem.
➡ If you have a standby, it means you are ready for failure instead of preventing it.
➡ The moment a machine is designated as a standby, it gets ignored. Nobody checks it regularly, and when the main machine fails, the standby is often not ready either.
➡ Running and maintaining two machines instead of one doubles the cost, effort, and risks.
The real solution? Preventive maintenance, reliability, and discipline. A well-maintained plant shouldn’t need a standby.
Restarting the Plant: What’s the Ideal Time?
Yesterday’s power failure stopped the plant, but why did it take more than two hours to restart?
There is a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for restarting the plant after a power stoppage. But how well is it being followed?
The ideal restart time should be:
✔ Minimal downtime
✔ Systematic sequence
✔ No unnecessary delays
What needs to be fixed?
➡ Clear responsibility: Who does what when power returns?
➡ Pre-checks: Which equipment should be checked before restart?
➡ Synchronization: How do different departments coordinate better?
Every minute of delay is a loss in production, efficiency, and cost. We will review and refine the SOP. It must be practical, efficient, and strictly followed.
Addressing an Environmental Issue
A cement plant generates waste oil. If not managed properly, it becomes an environmental hazard.
A simple and effective solution:
Step 1: Use waste oil for open chain lubrication immediately. This is a practical way to reuse it while reducing fresh oil consumption.
Step 2: In the next phase, introduce it as a firing fuel in preheater or furnaces. This needs controlled trials and monitoring.
Waste management should not just be disposal—it should be conversion.
Another Surprise Storm
The sky was clear at 2 PM. Not a single sign of rain.
And then, at 3 PM, the winds changed. The clouds arrived out of nowhere, and the rain poured heavily for an hour.
That’s how the rain is in this place—unexpected, intense, and powerful.
By 4 PM, it was over. The sun reappeared as if nothing had happened. That’s nature—unpredictable, yet consistent in its unpredictability.
Night Vigilance: Not Just a Formality
Night vigilance is not just about roaming the plant with a flashlight. It is a serious responsibility.
✔ Every corner of the plant must be covered.
✔ Critical areas need special focus.
✔ Every suspicious activity, every potential risk must be noted.
But why do some officers hesitate to report issues?
➡ Fear?
➡ Lack of clarity in their role?
➡ Concern that reporting problems will invite trouble?
They shouldn’t fear. We are working for the company, not against it.
A company’s security depends on how freely people can report what they observe. Vigilance isn’t about punishing people—it’s about protecting the plant.
We will ensure that every officer understands their role and feels empowered to report issues without hesitation.
Closing Thoughts
A lone tree fighting for its place.
A standby machine waiting for its turn, ignored until needed.
A plant restart process that needs fixing.
A storm that reminds us how unpredictable life is.
A team that must learn to report without fear.
Today’s lessons came from everywhere. Now, the real work is in applying them.
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