Reinforcing Discipline, Addressing Challenges, and Strengthening Commitments: 7th March, 2025

The morning talk today focused on CLTI – Cleaning, Lubrication, Tightening, and Inspection, essential pillars for machine reliability. With the plant set to restart in the next three days, I urged everyone to take this opportunity to ensure no machine remains unattended. I emphasized that:

  • Cleaning is crucial, as thorough cleaning is difficult once operations resume.
  • Lubrication is the cause of 80% of machine failures—whether it's excessive lubrication, insufficient lubrication, or using the wrong lubricant.
  • Tightening issues lead to most of the remaining breakdowns—over-tightening, under-tightening, and misalignment all contribute to failures.
  • Inspection allows us to detect problems early and prevent unexpected failures.

Machines and tools are like gods to us. They provide for us, they protect us, and they ensure our survival. CLTI is our way of worshiping them daily, and in return, they will give us everything we need.

Mr. BVK Raju then briefed everyone on the regional governor’s visit, emphasizing the importance of tree plantation, which aligns with the Togo government’s ambitious target of planting 1 billion trees. Mr. Lingaiaiah reminded everyone about energy conservation, stressing the need for continuous improvement in power efficiency.

We also revisited the issue of indiscriminate parking of motorcycles and vehicles. To bring discipline, I suggested registering all vehicles and issuing stickers to prevent unauthorized entry. Only registered vehicles will be allowed in designated parking areas.

Later in the day, I introduced Mensah to the K.I.S.S. principle—"Keep It Simple, Stupid"—realizing that while we boast about fast internet technology, basic problem-solving concepts remain unknown to many.

Key Technical and Administrative Discussions

  • HFO Transfer Pipeline: The current underground system is extensively damaged, with multiple leak points that are hard to locate and repair. A better long-term solution is to install a new overhead pipeline and dismantle the existing one. Planning for this has begun.
  • Rumors About Mining Lease Cancellation & Community Expectations: Mr. BVK Raju raised concerns about external pressures, including rumors regarding the cancellation of our mining lease and ongoing demands from different agencies. There are complaints that the company is not doing enough for the community, despite our significant contributions. I suggested two key points for an upcoming high-level meeting with decision-makers:
    1. We must communicate what we are already doing for the community. We provide direct employment to a large workforce, and our presence generates substantial indirect economic benefits for the region. We must have precise data to highlight our contributions.
    2. We must also communicate our own challenges. We need support, not financial aid, but cooperation and understanding. Theft is a major issue—not just the theft of materials from the plant but also the indirect loss caused by people not performing their jobs properly. If we can eliminate these issues, we can use those savings for further community development. Those harming the company should face strict consequences, as their actions negatively impact not just the plant but the entire local economy.

Meeting with Vocational Trainees

In the evening, I met with the five vocational trainees, including a young lady. The first thing I reminded them was the importance of learning English, which they seem to have neglected. I also emphasized the need to be present on Saturdays, as this three-month training period is critical for their future.

As I spoke with them, I reflected on my own training days. I used to come to the plant even on my weekly off days, eager to learn and contribute. I actively sought tasks from my seniors because I always wanted to improve myself.

This discipline and hunger for learning are what separate the ordinary from the extraordinary.

A small but significant personal win today—after struggling with laptop screen glare since May 2024, I finally found a solution. A few days ago, I accidentally came across an anti-glare sheet, ordered it, and thanks to Mr. G.D. Salia bringing it from Surat, I installed it today. The difference is miraculous, and I feel completely comfortable now.




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