Joe Anderson with ReliabilityX

Industrial Talk is onsite at Xcelerate 2025 and talking to Joe Anderson, Chief Operating Officer at ReliabilityX about "Reliability is all about the people".

At the Xcelerate 2024 conference in Austin, Texas, Scott Mackenzie and Joe Anderson discussed the importance of empathy and human connection in leadership. Joe, co-founder and COO of Reliability X, emphasized the need for leaders to treat employees with respect and invest in their development. He highlighted the challenges of organizational instability and the necessity of designating a champion for sustainable success. Joe shared a case where a successful pilot line was disrupted due to lack of investment in people. They also touched on the skilled trade shortage, the need for better PR in promoting trades, and the impact of educational systems on career choices.

Action Items

• [ ] Connect with Joe Anderson on LinkedIn
• [ ] Reach out to Joe Anderson via email

Outline

Accelerate 2024 Conference Introduction

• Scott MacKenzie introduces the Industrial Talk Podcast and welcomes listeners to the Accelerate 2024 conference in Austin, Texas.
• Scott highlights the conference's focus on celebrating industrial professionals who are bold, brave, innovative, and collaborative.
• Joe Anderson is introduced as a positive and passionate industry professional who will be part of the conversation.
• Scott and Joe discuss the conference's theme of integrating technology with people, emphasizing empathy and leadership.

Leadership and Empathy in Industrial Settings

• Joe Anderson discusses the importance of empathy in leadership, noting that leaders often treat employees like numbers rather than human beings.
• Joe shares his experience of touring plants where senior leaders fail to acknowledge workers, which negatively impacts morale and retention.
• Scott mentions a study by GE that showed improved production when management paid attention to frontline workers.
• Joe emphasizes that showing care and acknowledgment can significantly improve employee morale and reduce mistakes.

Introduction to Reliability X

• Joe Anderson introduces himself as the co-founder and COO of Reliability X, a company that helps organizations become highly profitable by developing people.
• Scott praises Reliability X's reputation in asset management and technology.
• Joe explains that Reliability X focuses on the human element, emphasizing the importance of developing people rather than relying on technology alone.
• Scott and Joe discuss the common pitfall of relying too heavily on technology without considering the human element.

Challenges in Organizational Stability

• Joe highlights the issue of instability in companies due to frequent management changes, which hinders the development of sustainable practices.
• Joe explains that his business model is to develop champions within organizations to ensure long-term success.
• Scott asks for an example of a successful implementation of Reliability X's methods, and Joe shares a story about a client who initially did not designate a champion.
• Joe describes how the client's employees revolted when they were moved to other lines, highlighting the importance of investing in people.

The Role of Champions in Organizational Success

• Joe discusses the importance of selecting the right champion for Reliability X's programs, noting that not everyone may be suitable.
• Scott and Joe talk about the process of identifying and developing champions within...