My Plant Diary

The day began on a note of old rhythm — an act I hold close: picking up plastic trash while walking to the plant. It's a small action, almost meditative, but it connects me deeply with the values I want to practice — responsibility, awareness, and respect for the space we work in. It’s not about making a statement, just about doing what’s right, consistently. In the morning meeting, I consciously chose to stay silent. I didn’t take the stage or the spotlight today. I stood behind, physically and mentally with the front-line team — a gesture of solidarity, humility, and quiet support. Sometimes, presence is louder than words. My plant rounds were limited but purposeful: Mechanical Workshop → Stores → Main Gate → Power Plant. Quick observations, brief interactions, and mental notes — the usual, but always meaningful. At the Daily Production Meeting, I felt the need to reframe how we understand stoppages — not as isolated events but as indicators of deeper issues. I shared three ...

Last night was not mine to claim. I wasn’t feeling well, yet I carried the weight of duty and walked into the night for vigilance. Sometimes the commitment doesn’t come from strength but from resolve. I made my rounds—CCR, Kiln#1—where cleaning was underway. But my body protested. The exhaustion had begun to overtake the discipline. There was one bright moment. While sitting at the CCR control desk, fatigued but holding ground, I clicked a selfie. Just a quiet moment of documentation. Later, I shared it on LinkedIn along with the “Oath for CCR Operators” I’d crafted two days ago. That post would later go viral—perhaps because truth and intention often find their own path into people’s hearts. At midnight, I went home. Sleep eluded me. Morning arrived, and I simply couldn’t get up on time. For the first time since I joined here, I had to inform my team I would be late. It felt strange, unsettling—but it also reminded me I am human. A team of government officials and contractors visi...

Today started on a very heavy note — literally. The night was restless, thanks to some bad food causing a lot of gas and uneasiness. Sleep simply refused to visit. Despite this, I decided to start the day early with my usual walk from the highway to the plant. I always find simple joy in greeting the sweepers diligently cleaning the road and acknowledging strangers. A small gesture, yet it makes the morning feel lighter. A quick detour to the dispensary followed, to check on a colleague admitted from our Fortia unit. Thankfully, he was recovering well after a scare of heart pain. Moments like these make you realize how fragile life is. During the morning prayer , Mr. Edoh thanked God for keeping us alive and safe. I added my thoughts — that our own actions also help God to protect us. Safety isn't just divine grace; it's our responsibility too. Since my health was not in top form, I shortened the usual plant round after visiting the Stores. A little rest and a light br...

After yesterday’s swirling confusion, today brought a welcome sense of clarity and direction. The morning meeting began on a refreshing note. After a quick prayer, I kept it short and sweet. In the spirit of goodwill, I extended an advance wish for Togo’s Independence Day to the few Togolese colleagues present. But I added a small thought — true independence is not just political; it is the freedom from negativity within ourselves . I could sense the thought landing well among those present. Sometimes, a small message shared at the right moment becomes a seed for inner change. The HOD meeting was more purposeful today. I addressed the recurring problem of Kiln feed belt bucket elevator tripping , proposing a structured method for diagnosing and solving it. No more random tweaking— proper inspection, cause identification, and elimination . After the meeting, I took my routine rounds —a visit to the Mechanical Workshop , Stores , and a stop at the Main Gate Security . These rounds...

A very strange day indeed. The morning meeting was nothing short of chaos. Unclear roles, unclear expectations, and a flood of minor irritations boiling over into conversations that led nowhere. I felt like a conductor trying to tune an orchestra where every instrument was playing a different tune. And so, I chose a completely different approach today— total surrender . Not giving up, but giving in. I let the confusion pass through me instead of resisting it. I listened more than I spoke. Because at this delicate stage of plant stability, I cannot allow the entire system to get rattled over transient waves. Thankfully, the DPM (Daily Planning Meeting) gave me some breathing space. It was more orderly. I managed to anchor the discussion and presented a small but important concept— the two types of job-lists for maintenance : Routine Inspection-Based Job-List – continuously updated as we observe abnormalities. Shutdown-Ready Job-List – filtered, prioritized, and ready to exec...

The Red Spot, The Snail, and the Silence of Responsibility The day started with bad news — Line#1 stopped at 5 AM , and a major red spot was noticed on the kiln shell at the 16-meter mark. We had been sensing the weakness in that zone for the past week — the signs were there. A growing hot zone, irregular skin patterns, subtle distortions in radiation. And yet… we waited. And now, here it was — staring at us like a glowing wound. While walking towards the plant through the assembly area , I tried to clear my mind. It’s a beautiful rectangular patch , framed by green Asopalav trees, a natural walkway cutting across the grass — gently created by the feet of those who pass every day. And as expected, a tiny snail was slowly making its way across the path, heading from the grassy patch toward the rain trench. These snails always come out after a rain. Many might step on them unknowingly — but today, I waited. I watched it crawl patiently till it crossed. Some lives are small and s...

Rain, Readiness & Reflections The day began before the sun had a chance to rise — not because of work, but thanks to the heavy rain that poured down in the middle of the night . I woke up at 00:44 AM with the sky still rumbling. Tried earplugs. Didn’t help. Sleep came and went. But when I finally got up in the morning, I couldn’t help but smile — everything outside was fresh, washed, and sparkling . Rain cleans more than just dust; it resets the mood. The morning meeting felt particularly spiritual. After our usual prayer, I took a moment to thank God — for yesterday, today, tomorrow… and everything in between. Be it rain, sun, or winter, there's a plan and a rhythm. Like farmers who rush to prep their land with the first sign of rain, we too must prepare ourselves to receive opportunities . Waiting with folded hands never worked — effort aligns with blessings . During the HOD meeting , I emphasized the urgent need to review safety provisions in all running equipment. I...

Key Points of the Day: Easter vibes continued: Morning music and greetings No formal DPM: All hands focused on Line#2 startup Plant Round: Workshop → Security → Kiln → CCR Kiln#2 successfully fired at 6 PM 🎉 Celebrated with toffees for the team 🍬 Bucket Elevator trial conducted with proper safety interlocks A Sweet Restart The morning began with the soft rhythm of Easter music flowing through the Bluetooth speaker — a small reminder of the spirit of renewal that Easter brings, even if just a handful of us made it to the morning meeting. We exchanged a few cheerful greetings, kept it short, and stepped right into action mode. The air in the plant buzzed with a singular focus today — Line#2 startup . No distractions. No formal Daily Production Meeting. Everyone was already on their toes, scattered across departments, giving it their all. That collective sense of urgency and shared responsibility? It's rare… and powerful. My plant round, though a bit brisk, ...

Morning Vibes: The day began on a light, soulful note. I connected my phone to the Bluetooth speaker in the conference room and played soft Easter music as the team slowly trickled in. The attendance was thin, as expected post-weekend. I greeted everyone with warm Easter wishes — even if most of them just nodded sleepily in return. The meeting was short. Barely a few minutes. I simply reminded the team: “Let’s focus on Line#2 startup. Let’s keep everything aligned. Let’s make this week count.” That was enough. Sometimes, less is more. Just like good music — a few notes can say a lot. JPR in Action: Later, I had a practical one-on-one with our Instrumentation Manager. Not a lecture — just a hands-on example of how to use the Job Planning Register (JPR) properly. How to assign, how to filter, how to follow up. He was attentive, and I think something clicked today. It's moments like these that shape the system — when even one person starts using the tool correctly, a silent...

The gentle patter of last night’s light rainfall (2mm, to be precise) left the morning air fresh and cool — a welcome change from the humid heaviness we've been dealing with lately. Still, the morning meeting saw even fewer attendees than yesterday. But that didn’t stop me from sharing a thought close to my heart — a quote I often fall back on during testing times: “If you can’t fly, run. If you can’t run, walk. If you can’t walk, crawl.  But by all means, keep moving.” And I stressed — not just any movement. It has to be movement in the right direction. There’s no point in running around if you’re going in circles. Improvement happens when we act deliberately, with purpose. When we fix what's broken. Clean what’s dirty. Support what’s weak. Strengthen what’s good. That's how you move forward. One colleague raised the ever-familiar concern — lack of commitment to safety issues. I listened patiently, then gently pointed the mirror back at all of us. “Who is responsibl...

Small Voices, Big Gaps The morning began with thin attendance . Sometimes, that’s the reality. It’s easy to call people out for it—but harder (and more effective) to understand why they’re not showing up. I’ll keep observing this trend to dig deeper into the root cause. After the morning prayer, Mr. Edoh shared a few words about Easter —a quiet, reflective moment that brought a soft spiritual touch to the day. A reminder that no matter how intense plant life gets, we are humans first. Safety Talk: The Power of Three Today’s safety message was simple but significant: 3-point contact while climbing stairs or ladders— two hands and one foot , or two feet and one hand , always in contact. What surprised me was how few people actually knew this . A safety rule that’s basic in most plants is unheard of here . So, I took a few minutes to explain it with examples, asked others to try demonstrating it, and encouraged questions. “Accidents don’t always come from machines failing. So...

Midnight Silence, Morning Voices Last night, I stayed at the plant till 3 AM . It was planned. Sometimes, you need to see the truth when no one expects you to be watching . As I moved through the plant, I noticed how eerily empty it felt. Very few people were around—most were either sleeping or hiding . Yes, even some of the security guards. I didn’t shout. I didn’t make a scene. Instead, I simply disturbed a few gently , spoke to them like a friend . What’s the point of anger when you’re trying to build trust? Correction is more powerful when it comes with calm clarity. Morning Meeting: Speaking of Safety and Support This morning, I focused the meeting on CLTI —our simple but essential framework: Cleaning, Lubrication, Tightening, and Inspection . I especially emphasized inspection —because what we don’t check, we can’t protect. I also talked about what I saw during the night: people sleeping on shift. Not to blame, but to highlight the danger —to themselves and to the plant. The ...

From Prayers to Practicality: A Day of Groundwork and Grit This morning, on my walk from the main gate to the workshop , I bent down and picked up some plastic waste lying along the way. Near the stores, I noticed a tall young worker observe me. Without a word, he too bent down, picked up a piece of plastic, and walked alongside to dispose it in the same bin. That’s the moment. Leadership without a title. Influence without instruction. Morning Assembly: A Stronger Voice and a Deeper Message We had a first today —a loudspeaker system installed for our morning meeting . A small yet powerful improvement. Everyone could finally hear, and that’s where engagement begins. I sang ‘Itni Shakti Hamen Dena Daata’ , one of my favorite prayers—deep, stirring, and full of intent. Then I translated it for everyone present, especially for those who didn’t understand Hindi. But I didn’t stop there. I shared once again the chilling and inspiring tale of the Rana Plaza collapse in Banglades...

Key Points – 15th April Began the day with a short safety wish after prayer Visited Stores, Main Gate Security, and the plant walk Spent a moment with a puppy near the dispensary Checked on automobile garage and kiln brick lining work Short DPM with focus on Job Planning Register and Theft Investigation Report Wrote a LinkedIn article based on a colleague's post about budgeting issues in procurement Brick lining machine broke down , personally visited and motivated the team Machine started working after the visit Hot and humid weather , clouds but no rain by end of the day Bricks, Budgets & a Break: A Day of Details and Discipline After the morning prayer, I kept it crisp. “I wish you all a safe and happy day ahead. No more talking. Let’s go to work.” Sometimes, fewer words travel further. Routine Rounds With a Furry Pause My walk began with my now-usual visits— Stores first , then Main Gate Security . On the way, a small surprise brightened t...

Key Points – 14th April Started the day with a prayer of gratitude during Mensah's morning prayer Visited Stores, Main Gate Security, and Kiln#2 to inspect refractory work Checked in with CCR operators Hot and humid morning Asked Mechanical HOD to prepare bar-chart for H1 silo maintenance Asked for schedule confirmation of shutdown activities Felt good to be greeted warmly by many people during the plant visit Humidity, Hopes, and the Habit of Planning The day began not just with sweat on the skin, but a sense of stillness in the soul. Mensah led the morning prayer , thanking God for another day. As he finished, I added— “I am thankful for the job I have, and for the good people I have around me.” It’s easy to forget this. Especially on hot, heavy mornings when the air feels like it’s pressing down on your thoughts. But gratitude, when spoken aloud, grounds you . It reminds you of the ‘why’ behind the ‘what’ we do every day. Walkthrough Begi...