Great Question: A Manufacturing Podcast Turn Your New Years’ Goals Into Real Reliability Gains (Ask A Plant Manager)
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Jan 8, 2026 In this engaging chat, Joe Kuhn, a former plant manager and president of Lean Driven Reliability LLC, shares invaluable insights on transforming goals into reliability gains. He emphasizes the importance of setting annual reliability goals linked to eliminating waste. Joe advocates for ambitious targets and involving leadership in the planning process. He also discusses the need to combat team burnout and the effectiveness of dividing work crews for better focus. Personal reflections on New Year's resolutions add a thoughtful touch, reminding listeners of the importance of emotional readiness for change.
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Root Goals In Observed Waste
- Link every reliability goal to a specific waste identified in your plant through direct observation.
- Spend 8–24 hours observing the area before setting targets and involve the leadership team in goal creation.
Continuous Improvement Is A Survival Need
- Plants must improve yearly just to offset inflation, aging equipment, and rising salaries.
- Framing improvement as necessary to stay even helps rally the team.
Work Backward And Overshoot Targets
- Work backward by asking what must be true on December 31 for the goal to be met.
- Shoot 20–25% higher than the target to allow for unplanned events and force proactive workarounds.