Google, refractories, money and people.

During a few challenging weeks, mainly related to late delivery of … – well, everything! It became apparent that schedule compromise was so severe, it resulted in critical cost issues, which was now at the forefront of how decisions are made. In fact, it’s always about the money, isn’t it? Anyway – it didn’t help that quality issues also became a factor – I mean, you can’t build it “the right way” if it’s designed questionably (I will refrain from saying “wrong”) … and it did not take a design engineer to see obvious flaws. Anyway – as I said – the obvious was, once again, that it’s all about the money and it starts in the cradle stage – in other words, right at the start. In fact, one could argue that it starts with accepting the cheapest bidder, in some instances.

 

The solution to the problems at hand was not in what Google generically defines refractories to be – meaning that we could not solve the problem if we changed materials, tried alternative technology, or revise installation methods, in this case. The solution was in the people – not the “stubborn material”. People, in as much, the primary adopted attitude to problems or depending on specific sentiment “the adventure” and the ability to adapt from the original proposition – which was contractually agreed upon – towards the solution – also formalized of course. To be clear – the motivator was and will always be, profit. But people are the critical “asset” that truly afford profit. People gets the job done or if you like – does the R&D, or makes sure the processes are perfectly implemented, to then work automatically on its own.

 

To some extent, I must touch on what refractories are, in the two main categories 1. “Refractories as materials and where it’s applied” and 2. The refractories industry.

 

1. Form a materials perspective – it can withstand high heat conditions, and, in some instances, it must be resistant to erosion or acids – just to stick to the basics. We sometimes even explain it by measure of example, through referring to incinerators & furnaces, … and so on, and then it’s nice to add some essence by saying that refineries and cement & steel manufacturing plants, would be inoperable without refractories. The world depends on it!

 

So yes, I am obviously thankful for the existence of refractories, and I can get that idea across with an even slightly poignant explanation – well enough for a toddler to understand – either way, I can get the message across effectively. Good, so that’s refractories for the outsider.

 

However, as an effective basic explanation, the fact remains that as with any other industry, refractories are not only about: where it is implemented, what it does, or only about its primary physical, mechanical, and chemical attributes.

 

Hence point 2.

 

The refractory industry:

 

When refractories are your lively hood and, in some instances, your business, you can’t truly ignore that the nucleus of an industry is not only formed out of science and engineering, but also People and as I mentioned, money. If we ignore this, as directly engaged parties, then we might fail at the whole effort of understanding or even succeeding in it at all. Yes, and it is possible to subdivide categories, such as design & engineering and installation, each with their own quark structure and subsequent definition…

 

Point is, we must all earn a living. Someone else might need to ensure their business is profitable, to the extent that it can maintain itself – or hopefully further develop. There will also always be someone else that needs to get a product and service that does not disappoint, or for that matter a service that does not end when the manholes close and the last payment is made.

 

Overall – refractories are about money and people, not only the smart solutions – and I mean smart solution with all respect – it’s part of why I love this business.

 

To cut to the end; I hope I’m fortunate with my next project to work with more people as I am now, people that made it obviously clear to me, that their team comes first – thus people. Look after the people and they will look after your company, thus your profits. It’s perhaps worth saying that if your people come first, then solutions often come in the form of effort to achieve the original objective.

 

That’s all folks!

Barnie Enslin