Gear Talk is the podcast that connects maintenance & reliability professionals with reliable information, insights, and experts, enabling them to accomplish their goals more effectively, efficiently and enthusiastically. Join Wes Cash each month as he talks shop with industry experts, thought leaders, and the folks in the trenches keeping industry moving.
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What if the biggest problem with CMMS isn’t the technology, but how people actually use it? In this episode of Gear Talk, Wes Cash sits down with UpKeep founder Ryan Chan to talk about where CMMS came from, where it’s headed and how emerging technology is changing the way maintenance teams capture information, analyze data and get work done. Ryan shares how his own experience with cumbersome, desktop-based maintenance software led to the creation of UpKeep, and why putting technicians first can make the difference between useful maintenance data and another digital filing cabinet. The conversa
How can maintenance and reliability teams turn training and certification into real improvement across the plant? In this episode of Gear Talk, host Wes Cash sits down with Matt Spurlock, PhD, of Georgia-Pacific, to talk about the connection between lubrication certification, leadership, trust, and organizational commitment. Drawing from 30 years of experience in oil analysis and lubrication, along with doctoral research focused on MLT-certified professionals, Matt shares what his findings reveal about how certified employees view their leaders and what actually helps technical knowledge turn
How do strong maintenance and reliability teams align communication across the shop floor, leadership, and peer groups without creating friction or bottlenecks? In this episode of Gear Talk, host Wes Cash sits down with coach Jaison Thomas to talk about building the kind of culture that keeps teams connected, engaged, and moving in the same direction. Drawing from experience in the Air Force, chemical manufacturing, food and beverage, and plant leadership, Jaison shares practical insight into how leaders can build trust on the factory floor, communicate effectively across levels of the organiz
Why has lubrication drifted from a specialized engineering discipline to something many plants treat as a basic task? In this episode of Gear Talk, recorded at Reliable Plant 2025, host Wes Cash sits down with Danny Shorten to explore how the role of lubrication has changed over the last four decades—and why it may be time to rethink it. Drawing from experience in lubricant testing, field engineering, marine environments, and lubrication management, Danny explains how some organizations gradually lost dedicated lubrication expertise and what that erosion has cost them. From lube room standards
What does reliability look like when your assets aren’t bolted to the floor—but hauling 200 tons of ore up a 6% grade? In this episode of Gear Talk, host Wes Cash sits down with Terry Taylor, a veteran of mining and heavy industry, to explore reliability in mobile equipment environments. From massive draglines in Texas to gold mining operations in Nevada and coal fleets in West Virginia, Terry shares hard-earned lessons on lubrication, oil analysis, planning, and culture. He explains how structured PM systems, in-house oil labs, and disciplined execution helped drive major cost reductions—and
What does it really take to build a culture of reliability—and why do so many programs stall even when the tools are right? In this episode of Gear Talk, host Wes Cash is joined by Mike Dwyer to explore how reliability succeeds or fails based on culture, communication, and alignment across an organization. Drawing from Mike’s experience spanning the U.S. Navy, steel, pulp and paper, global condition monitoring programs, and his current role at Mobius Institute, the conversation digs into why reliability can’t live in a silo. From maintenance and operations to procurement, energy management, an
AI, sensors, and digital tools are flooding the maintenance and reliability world—but are organizations adopting them the right way? In this episode of Gear Talk, host Wes Cash sits down with Dave Howard, CEO of Erbessd Instruments, to challenge the “technology-first” mindset and make the case for a more sustainable approach: people first, technology second. Drawing on decades of experience—from military aviation and plant leadership to vibration analysis and executive leadership—Dave explains why technology alone can’t fix reliability problems, why AI won’t replace skilled analysts, and how c
What does the manufacturing industry look like in Oklahoma? In this episode of Gear Talk, Wes Cash sits down with Lieutenant Governor Matt Pinnell to discuss the manufacturing industries prevalent in the state of Oklahoma and identify what steps are being taken to bring more skilled professionals to the state and reduce the skills gap. From career tech schools to student outreach, Lt. Governor Pinnell sheds light on the manufacturing opportunities in Oklahoma and the incentives that are available to companies looking to get into manufacturing here. You’ll learn about: The economic importance o
How do workforce barriers impact staffing in manufacturing? In this episode of Gear Talk, host Wes Cash sits down with the Tulsa Port of Catoosa’s Sheila Shook to discuss the steps that the Port is taking to attract, hire, and educate workers in manufacturing. From transportation limitations, to a wide-spread lack of manufacturing awareness, Sheila shares her experiences with overcoming workforce barriers and providing training and education in manufacturing. You’ll learn: The common workforce barriers impacting our industry The importance of preparing the next generation of manufacturing work
Who should lead your plant’s lubrication program? In this episode of Gear Talk, host Wes Cash sits down with Noria’s Travis Richardson to unpack what makes a true lube champion. From walking back down eight flights of stairs to grab the right grease, to creating a culture of reliability that lasts, Travis shares real-world stories from his work building lubrication programs on five continents. You’ll learn: The key traits of an effective lube champion Why culture and behavior matter as much as technical expertise How frontline staff and management both play vital roles Practical steps to gain
In this episode of Gear Talk, West Cash sits down with Trent McJunkin—an automotive maintenance pro who rose from technician to strategic leader. They dive into why being brilliant at the basics still matters, how to build trust with your team, and the real key to successful reliability initiatives. Whether you're new to the field or leading the charge, this one's packed with practical takeaways and industry wisdom. 🎧 Tune in, get inspired, and equip yourself for some quick maintenance wins.
In this episode recorded at Reliable Plant 2025, Steve Breeze from Tolko shares how engaging lube techs in the improvement process can transform a lubrication program. Hear practical ways to build ownership, encourage input from the floor, and drive meaningful change.
In this episode of Gear Talk, Wes sits down with Scott Fry, Director of Workforce Development at MidAmerica Industrial Park, to explore one of the biggest challenges facing industry today: workforce recruitment and development. Scott shares firsthand insights into the struggles employers face when attracting talent, and dives into real-world strategies that are helping close the skills gap. He also shares his perspective on the future of workforce development and how industrial parks like MidAmerica are uniquely positioned to drive change. #geartalk #workforce #industrial #recruiting
On this episode of Gear Talk, Wes Cash sits down with Levi (last name) from KCF Technologies to discover more about remote monitoring technologies and how to successfully apply them as part of a well-rounded, world-class facility. With a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Penn State, Levi is using his insights to bring the human touch back to sensor technologies by helping KCF's users capitalize on their technicians' talents in maintenance and reliability. Levi talks with Wes about how, with KCF's technology, users can begin to utilize data to make thoughtful and impactful decisions that in
On this special episode of Gear Talk, Wes Cash chats with the most famous guest to visit the show - Santa Claus! With more than 1,500 years as the Worldwide Distribution Manager for the North Pole, Santa knows a thing or two about how crucial reliability is to keeping machines healthy and running during the busiest time of the year. From extreme temperatures to intense production demands, Santa explains how he took his elves renowned talents and amplified their results with new production and reliability systems, including perfecting their lubrication and contamination control processes. From
On this episode of Gear Talk, Wes Cash sits down with special guest Mina Soliman, CEO of Prime Gear and Noria Regional Technical Consultant, to talk about the state of reliability in the Middle East and the crucial role failure analysis is playing in creating world-class facilities. Mina has decades of experience and multiple significant contributions to lubrication standards, such as ICML 55. In this podcast, Mina explains how reliability is becoming engrained in Middle Eastern manufacturing culture, especially as different industries and reliability standards are introduced.From Oil & Gas to
On this episode of Gear Talk, Wes Cash chats with special guest Lisa Williams, Product Manager at Ametek Spectro Scientific and Sub-Committee Chair for ASTM, to talk about how on-site oil analysis can help catch failures faster in heavy industry and manufacturing. With nearly 20 years of experience working in oil analysis, Lisa reveals how on-site analysis provides rapid, reliable information on the machines that facilities rely on for uptime and profitability. Join us as we learn why this data is critical, how to collect it, and how to apply it to our workflows to lower barriers and stop fail
In this episode of Gear Talk, Wes Cash sits down with special guest Drew Troyer, Global Head of Asset Management for Anglo American, to uncover the history and truth behind condition-based maintenance. With nearly 34 years of experience, Drew reveals how this pioneering evolution from time-based maintenance came about and how it revolutionized every aspect of a facility's maintenance goals, including oil analysis. Join us as we learn to holistically view people, resources, and assets to develop a condition-based maintenance routine that not only properly maintains assets, but increases reliabi
In this episode of Gear Talk, we dive deep into the world of maintenance and reliability with our special guest, Brian Brzinski, founder of AMSS Advanced Management Systems & Services, Inc. With over 25 years in maintenance and reliability and over 30 years in manufacturing, Brian brings a wealth of knowledge and experience. Brian has seen it all, from his beginnings as a steel mill laborer to his rise to executive leadership. Join Wes and Brian as they focus on the significance of aligning your maintenance structure with your plant's goals, how culture influences maintenance and reliability p
Wes Cash welcomes industry veteran Jerry Putt to Gear Talk for an in-depth discussion on the evolution of technical skills and onboarding in today's industrial landscape. With 39 years at Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company and 13 years at Noria, Jerry brings a wealth of knowledge and experience.Join Wes and Jerry as they cover:• Jerry's global experiences and the variety of talent in different regions.• The transition from traditional apprenticeship programs to modern training methods.• The impact of AI and technology on maintenance and reliability.• Challenges faced by trade industries due to a r
Join Wes as he speaks with Jody Parsons. Jody is a leadership development coach and will be talking about how you can effectively lead during changes with your reliability and lubrication programs within your organization. Find out ways to strengthen employee engagement and change the status quo. Leaders ask questions to gather information and work toward ways to make the team better. Gear Talk, where we connect reliability professionals with reliable information. #geartalk #leadership #transformation #softskills #engage #corevalues
In our latest episode, join Wes as we dive deep into the heart of NASCAR racing with tribologist Lake Speed Jr. Discover the critical role of tribology in the racing world and how it's not just about the car but the science behind it that leads to victory. From the intricate process of applying tribological principles to race cars to the complex chemistry of oil blending, Wes and Lake shed light on the unseen elements that fuel success on the track. Whether you're a NASCAR enthusiast, a car technology aficionado, or just curious about the science of speed, this episode is your pit stop for ins
The lubrication industry is at a critical juncture. As seasoned professionals retire, there's a noticeable void in technical expertise not staying within the facilities. In this episode, Wes sits down with Lubrication Expert Rafe Britton for an in-depth discussion on staffing issues in the lubrication industry. Join them as they shed light on the historical context behind these staffing challenges and explore strategies to draw fresh, talented individuals into the lubricants field.
In this episode of Gear Talk, Wes sits down with Jeff Walkup, FluidLife’s vice president of sales and marketing, to discuss leadership lessons in lubrication.
In this episode of Gear Talk, Wes sits down with Charli K. Matthews, CEO and founder of Empowering Brands, and a passionate advocate for empowering teams.
