Sawan Jasoliya

More inventory does not always mean better availability of spares. In fact, the more unnecessary inventory you have, the less likely you are to find the exact spare you need when a breakdown happens. This thought crossed my mind when I heard about the breakdown of a bucket elevator gearbox at Sebit, West Pokot plant —a place where I worked for a short time. The plant was shut down for 12 days due to the unavailability of a spare gearbox. Unfortunately, this is a recurring issue there. There was no scientific approach to procurement—just blind purchasing to save their skins. But in reality, no one can escape the consequences of poor planning. And then there’s the bigger issue: it was an old Chinese plant. After running its full life in China and being exploited to the maximum, it was sold to Devki Group, Kenya. Imagine the situation for a mechanical maintenance engineer in a plant like this—no proper manuals, no part lists, and no structured systems. Every day and every night...

When I first joined the plant, I noticed something that stood out—while the workforce was skilled and dedicated, there was a significant gap in communication and team morale. The workforce was often focused on promotions, salary demands, and bonuses. This negativity was dragging down the spirit of the entire plant. But I was determined to change that. One of my first initiatives was to introduce a morning meeting with the mechanical team, followed by other HODs. The gatherings grew steadily, ranging from 20 to 40 people, and I began to see the power of open, transparent communication in action. I realized that mass communication is essential to include everyone in the same narrative, moving away from individual demands and toward collective progress. Breaking the Barrier of Negativity Initially, the idea of mass communication was met with doubts. After all, it hadn’t been practiced much in the plant before. Many workers began raising issues of salary, bonuses, and promotion—famili...

Working as an expatriate in developing or underdeveloped countries comes with its own set of challenges and opportunities. Based on my experience and observations, I want to share some thoughts—and I’d love to hear your perspective too. Let’s make this a conversation! 1. Is Self-Entitlement Holding Us Back? Have you noticed how some expats come with an attitude of superiority? It’s like, “I’m here because the locals can’t do this job.” Sure, that might be why you were hired, but does that mean we shouldn’t engage or learn from the locals? Many expats avoid integrating with the team. They rely on their 'drivers' for everything or insist on “their” car, even if it means waiting around while a simple carpool could save time. [Sorry but I can't say directly hence using this analogy. Interestingly, it's also true literally.] This mindset creates barriers, not bridges. Trust me, when you show respect and work collaboratively, the locals notice—and they reciprocate. Have you e...