When you know the Author
Resources from MotorDoc are an incredibly valuable and essential addition to your industry knowledge library, providing you with crucial insights and information.
Great resources are truly hard to come by in the reliability industry, making genuine knowledge all the more valuable. Most sources you come across are either trying to sell you something or require you to attend a specialized trade school in order to really dive deep into the subject matter and gain a thorough understanding. Fortunately, that is not the case with MotorDoc. Howard possesses both the in-depth knowledge and extensive hands-on experience to explain topics ranging from highly complex concepts like Signature Analysis to more mainstream and widely-used practices such as Condition Monitoring in a clear, straightforward, and approachable way that anyone can grasp. I recently had the pleasure of visiting Howard and Janine in their welcoming home office located in Lombard. The entire experience was simultaneously warm, friendly, and mind blowing from an educational perspective. In the reliability industry, shop transformations are incredibly rare, and securing funding for such initiatives is almost always delayed or sometimes completely absent. Understanding how to effectively connect with the purse holders—the decision-makers and budget controllers—is an essential skill required by everyone involved, especially managers and leaders who are driving these much-needed changes forward.
Three valuable resources that Howard generously shared with me have immensely supported my journey. These are books that he himself has authored, skillfully bridging the knowledge gap for me in a very effective way. To start, there are two key books often referred to by their cover colors — the Blue and the Green books, respectively titled Electrical Motor Diagnostics (blue) and Practical Electrical and Current Signature Analysis of Electrical Machinery and Systems (green). If you’re relatively new to motor knowledge, I’d recommend beginning with the blue book. It covers essential topics like Motor Diagnostics and Motor Health, Basic Electricity, and Common Electrical Testing techniques. The inclusion of useful formulas and clear diagrams provides a practical glimpse into real-world field experience. As for me, I’m still in the process of working my way through the Green book, Signature Analysis of Electrical Machinery, which offers deeper insights into more advanced topics.
The star of the show is Physical Asset Management for the Executive, a crucial concept that addresses the longstanding gap in communication between tradespeople and leadership. This language barrier has existed ever since Frederick Taylor revolutionized the industry with his principles of Scientific Management. Taylor’s remarkable approach involved simplifying every detail of work and breaking down tasks into their most basic components, effectively separating skilled tradesmen from untrained laborers. To achieve this, Frederick acted as a vital leadership bridge between shop foremen and business owners, facilitating better understanding and coordination. But that’s a fascinating topic for another time. Physical Asset Management for the Executive captures the reader’s attention and guides them step-by-step along the path to establishing a dependable maintenance program—starting with labor force development and On-The-Job Training (OJT), then moving on to practical management tools designed to ensure that important goals are consistently met.
Physical Asset Management for the Executive
Unlock the full potential of your business with Physical Asset Management for the Executive. This comprehensive solution empowers you to efficiently track, manage, and optimize your valuable physical assets, saving time and reducing costs. Say goodbye to asset downtime and unexpected expenses—gain real-time insights and make smarter strategic decisions with ease.
Having worked in maintenance all my life, and in various careers, having a handle on the equipment within the organization will boost your ability to gain needed funds, track organizational goals, and speak the language of leadership to support the latest agenda.
Investing in Physical Asset Management means boosting productivity, extending asset life, and enhancing ROI. Equip yourself with tools designed specifically for busy executives who need clear, actionable data without the hassle. Take control of your assets today and drive your business forward with confidence.
Don’t wait—streamline your asset management now through the provided link and experience the difference that savvy executive oversight can make!
The trip to MotorDoc’s home office was not only enjoyable but also incredibly enriching. Between Howard and Janine, I was made to feel genuinely welcome, and our conversations naturally flowed with ease, covering a wide range of topics—from our shared experience as veterans to our respective careers in the maintenance and engineering fields. Howard’s career in the industry began during his time in the Navy, where he gained invaluable skills and insights, and from there, his professional journey truly took off. Today, he actively participates in shaping electrical standards within the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), bringing a profound wealth of expertise and thoughtful perspective to the table. His deep knowledge of renewable energies and wind turbines was impressively extensive, comprehensive, and expertly conveyed with clarity and passion. Compared to his vast understanding, my knowledge on those subjects remains quite basic and rudimentary at best, highlighting just how much there is to learn in this fascinating field.
And yes, that is a lifesize Sasquatch - there is a cool story there.
Another fun and engaging topic during the visit was, of course, coffee — we chatted about all sorts of coffee-related things. MotorDoc, Howard, hosts an excellent podcast called Chaos & Caffeine (available on YouTube), which dives deep into the world of coffee culture. Personally, I’m a fan of a good medium roast with a little milk and some sweetener added for just the right touch, whereas Doc prefers his coffee straight up black, no frills. While our coffee preferences might differ, we definitely agree on the importance of quality. Both of us enjoy Death Wish Coffee among others, appreciating its bold flavor. On a side note, Death Wish Coffee has an impressive blog section on their website — for example, they feature an article titled Do Coffee Drinkers Live Longer? I’d like to think we do, thanks to that perfect cup of coffee.
While we were talking and enjoying our coffee together, it quickly became clear from our habits and familiarity that we both came up through the trades—the coffee cups rarely left our hands for long, except during those moments when the Doc eagerly showed me some innovative new hardware designed specifically to detect the health of electrical motors. He has developed several devices, each backed by their own patents, showcasing his dedication and expertise. During our conversation, we also touched on the education systems, sharing concerns about how the output of students today does not quite meet the quality standards that the industry truly needs.
Wrapping up this trip, I walked away with tons of homework to complete and an extensive amount of reading patiently waiting for me at home. Reflecting on the long journey back, I’m continually amazed at how we, as individuals, manage to navigate through life’s many twists and turns, overcoming challenges with resilience and grace. Even more impressive is how we, as entrepreneurs, tackle each demanding day with unwavering determination and passion, all while still finding the time to invent new gadgets, earn advanced degrees like PhDs, travel the world exploring fresh ideas, and contribute meaningfully to important work such as setting industry standards. Entrepreneurs truly amaze me with their relentless drive and ability to juggle so many responsibilities. That’s exactly why we rely on drinking so much coffee — to stay sharp, focused, and energized — leaving the worries about sleep and exhaustion for another day.
Guilty disclaimer: by supporting my blogs, you are also supporting my deep love of local bookstores. Every single book mentioned in this blog, as well as in the other posts on my website, can be found through Bookshop, a fantastic program that shares profits directly with small, independent bookstores in our communities. I have carefully curated even more books for you to explore in the links below, and if there’s a specific title you’re searching for that you don’t see here, just let me know—I’ll be happy to add it to my shelf and share it with you.
