Gear Talk

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 insights into how the worlds of tribology and racing collide to push the boundaries of performance. #geartalk #tribology #nascar #lakespeedjr #racing #oilblending #cartechnology

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. As an industry veteran, Jeff is passionate about the impact of leadership on maintenance and reliability teams and how it drives innovation and excellence in facilities. Whether you're on the facility floor or in the C-suite, this episode is packed with insights, experiences, and tips to elevate your leadership skills.

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. Charli believes in the power of psychological safety — a place where speaking up, taking responsibility, and proactive action are not just encouraged but celebrated. Join Wes and Charli as they delve into the art of creating an environment where team members don't just exist, but excel.

In this episode of Gear Talk, Wes sits down with Paul Farless, an industrial service technician with Noria, to discuss getting buy-in for change. One of Paul's passions is preaching change and awareness within facilities to cultivate long-term success and sustainability. Whether you're part of a large, seasoned team or a smaller unit, getting buy-in from your maintenance staff is crucial. Join Wes and Paul for this inspiring and informative episode!

In this episode, Wes sits down with Jeremy Drury, a leading expert in IoT, to explore its impact on the maintenance and reliability world. IoT has been hyped up for a while now, and thanks to Jeremy, we're getting some practical information on where to start with IoT, what's realistic for the industry, and what the future of reliability looks like.

In this episode of Gear Talk, Wes sits down with Jeremie Edwards, an MLE-certified technical consultant with Noria, to discuss operator-driven reliability. When it comes to this topic, many people try to implement operator-driven reliability, but they may not know how to do this or even where to start. Join Wes and Jeremie as they dive into the topic and provide insights on why this is important, who are the best people to own it, and how to achieve it.

In this episode, Wes is joined by Greg Christensen, host of CMMSradio, for an in-depth discussion on all things CMMS. The episode covers Greg's background, how he began his podcast, and guidance for considering a CMMS and cutting through the noise to choose the right one.

In this episode, Dr. John Ross with Maintenance Innovators joins Wes to discuss a topic commonly overlooked in the industry — the role of the storeroom in reliability. Join Wes and John as they chat about this crucial topic that plays a vital role in a facility's lubrication program and its overall reliability strategy.

In this episode of Gear Talk, Wes is joined by Daniel Rader, Reliability Engineer at L3Harris Technologies, to discuss the proactive side of reliability and how we design reliability into our systems and into our machines.

In this episode of Gear Talk, Wes is joined by Scott Furman, Reliability Coordinator at the City of Tulsa, to discuss the growing need for reliability in public utilities, how tough it can be to sell the need for public utility reliability and what the City of Tulsa is doing in this space.

In this episode, Wes is joined by industrial lubrication visionary Jim Fitch. Jim is the founder of Noria Corporation and has been a thought leader for decades within the fields of machinery lubrication, oil analysis and reliability. Wes and Jim discuss the history behind the company, how Jim has watched the field of industrial lubrication evolve and mature over the course of his career, and why he believes we are currently in the golden age of lubrication. What does he mean by that? Listen to this episode and find out!

In this episode, Wes sits down with Amy Moore, the Dean of Academic Affairs for a local trade school here in Tulsa. Wes and Amy discuss the state of the trades in 2023, and why choosing a trade instead of a college degree might make sense. As someone with both extensive in-the-trenches experience in the trades and a post-graduate degree (she's currently finishing up her doctorate), Amy brings a really unique perspective to this discussion.

In this inaugural episode of Gear Talk, Wes sits down with Noria's Chief Strategy Officer Bennett Fitch. Bennett has extensive experience in industrial lubrication and oil analysis and as the son of Noria founder Jim Fitch, has been immersed in this culture from a young age. Wes and Bennett discuss what an innovative lubrication program looks like today, their predictions for where lubrication is headed in the coming years and what new and emerging tools and techniques lubrication professionals should be paying attention to. You can find out more about the LubePM software Bennett mentioned at https://www.lubepm.com