Many people in plants feel powerless to take action, lamenting poor design, management support, lack of tools and training, etc.  As someone said, it’s easier to get forgiveness than permission.  So, with that in mind, we’ll discuss things that anyone can do, given they’ve had some experience in working in their plants, at least enough to know where some of the problems are and something about solving them.  Start with collecting data to demonstrate the business case – the nature of the problem, the action required, and the result anticipated – a business case of investment vs. benefit; using RCA, a simple 5 Whys is a good start, to work toward the root cause of problems; working with precision, including acquiring the tools and training to do so; doing a walkabout to identify simple things like pipe stress, leaks, closing and securing electrical panels, cleaning motors, obvious waste; organize and update drawings; identifying equipment foundations that need upgrade/repair; learning and applying good lube practices; and finally, recording accurate equipment histories to allow better analysis and resolution.  Maybe you can’t do all these, and certainly not all at once, but you can do some.  So, chip away at some of these things, and get on with it!  A year or two from now, you’ll be proud you did.