Sawan Jasoliya

There was a time when an engineer wasn't just an engineer. He was an inspector, a planner, a scheduler, and a doer -  all in one. I’ve lived that era. From 1999 to 2005, during our TPM journey , we didn’t just “work" - we owned. I’d walk through the plant, spot abnormalities, note down issues, plan the actions, execute the job, and close the SAP notification. And not just me -  everyone around me worked the same way. That was the norm. That was our pride. Even years later, till NOW , I followed that approach in every plant I worked in. Then Came the Shift I came across the new “efficient” model: One team inspects [inspectors / walk by inspectors etc.] Another team plans [planners / schedulers etc.] A third team executes [doers etc.] It looked clean on paper. Divided roles. Structured accountability. Specialization. But something inside me couldn’t digest it. I struggled with myself - wondering why I was resisting this new approach. Then it hit me. T...

It was 2011-12, and I was serving as HOD-Mechanical. My Plant Head called me into his office. He said, “We need to run the Roller Press in Cement Mill #2. There’s no mechanical issue. But I want you to take the lead.” Now, this machine hadn’t run for a long time. The operational team had faced multiple challenges. But when the boss puts faith in you, what do you say? “OKAY SIR.” That’s it. Challenge accepted. --- We tackled the issues - one by one, patiently, persistently. Finally, the Roller Press started running smoothly with the Cement Mill. I was happy. Relieved. I thought we did it. The boss smiled. He said, “Good. But we need 65% product in -2mm size. That’s what the system was designed for.” Again, I nodded. "Okay, Sir." What else could I say? We adjusted. Tweaked parameters. Solved more bottlenecks. Soon enough, we hit 65% -2mm product. I thought, “Yes, now he’ll be satisfied.” He said, “Great. Now let’s push for 80%.” No options. No debate. Just a raised bar. We work...

Unplanned stoppages are bad.  But shutdowns can be a big opportunity — A really big opportunity… IF ONLY WE ARE PREPARED, our job-lists are ready. There are two types of job-lists for any shutdown: 1. Standard Job-List This is the list of jobs that we perform as part of our standard inspection and maintenance routines (mostly preventive maintenance). Process Department: checks refractory conditions in cooler, kiln, and preheater; dip tube, feedpipe, flap valve condition, etc., and carries out the necessary maintenance. Mechanical Department: checks DPC, cooler, kiln supporting roller bearings, drive, HTD, bucket elevator, blowers, process fans, mill internals, screw conveyors, etc., and performs the required maintenance. Electrical Department: checks HT/LT panels, circuit breakers, cable terminations, MCCs, motors, lighting systems, earthing, and ensures functionality of interlocks and protection systems. Instrument Department: calibrates and maintains field instr...

We all admire successful people. We follow them on social media. We read their books. We watch their interviews and TED Talks. And why not? They’ve achieved what many of us are aiming for. But here’s something important I want to share: 👉 Just following successful people will not automatically make you successful. Let me be clear— I’m not saying it doesn’t help. Listening to them, watching them, reading about them—it does give you insights and motivation. But there’s no guarantee that doing what they did will work exactly the same for you. Why? Because the truth is— successful people create their own success systems. They are not following someone else’s steps; they are figuring out what works for them, in their context, with their personality, skills, timing, and luck. In fact, many successful people can’t even explain their system properly —because most of it is happening in their subconscious. They do things a certain way, they react a certain way, they take decisi...

Is Your Budget Helping the Plant or Hurting It? Budgeting is not a ritual. It’s a strategic exercise , or at least it’s meant to be. But what has it become in many plants today? Let’s talk honestly.  A simple formula:  “[Last year’s budget] – [20%]” That’s how it starts. No real discussions. No real-time condition assessment. No logic. Just blind cost-cutting . "Last year we spent ₹10 lakhs on spares? Okay, this year we will spend ₹8 lakhs." "We used 5000 litres of lubricant last year? Let's target 4000 litres this year." But… Why? Is the plant going to run fewer hours this year? Are prices coming down? Are you expecting fewer breakdowns? No one asks. No one answers. Where’s the Vision? True budgeting demands vision — a long-term vision. But these days, teams are unstable , and no one stays long enough to think about the long-term impact of short-term cuts. Let’s take an example that might sound familiar to you: The Cleaning Manpower Example Suppos...

Why this post? In today’s job market, having the right skills is not enough —you need the right visibility. And when it comes to building that visibility, LinkedIn is your best ally. And yes, do not think that this is a long or complicated process. It’s actually quite simple—and once you start, you’ll find it becoming more comfortable with each passing day. Soon, you’ll start enjoying it. Especially when you begin to see results—new connections, interview calls, and confidence in presenting yourself. I’ve been mentoring and helping job-seekers for over a decade, and just today, during a conversation with a mining engineer, I felt the need to share these tips in a detailed manner— not as theory, but as actionable guidance based on real experience. Step 1: Start With Your Profile ✅ Make it neat, complete, and keyword-rich. Your profile is your first impression. Spend some time reviewing it—add a good photo, a strong headline, your experience, and skills. 👉 Example: If you’re a...

A plant’s Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) is a direct reflection of how well its problems are being solved.  And the easiest way to check that? Look at recurring stoppages. ~> If a problem occurred 6 months ago and keeps happening, it means the root cause was never addressed. ~> More than 3 similar stoppages? No real RCA (Root Cause Analysis) is being done. ~> When RCA is done right, stoppages reduce, OEE improves, and life becomes easier for everyone! It's a simple formula: Good RCA = Good OEE = Good Life = Good Everything.