From snow-covered Mine sites in the sub-zero Nordic region, to the tropics of Indonesia; Gerard Wood from Bluefield Asset Management Specialists has worked on almost every continent. Starting out as a Tradie, he worked his way into Management, then on to co-founding a mining consulting company, that focus on optimizing reliability and maintenance. He lives and breathes his work so much so that he has written a book to pass forward his knowledge and experience. Achieving success on many levels, Gerard remains humble and speaks in a way that leaves you confident he’s well researched and a no-nonsense kind of bloke. Kicking things off with a quick beer review, we then dive into Gerard’s Career and highlights and after flow into the future of Mining. Gerard then dives into details on the book he’s authored, telling us why he wrote it and who will benefit most from it. We then wind down our chat with some technical questions which display Gerard’s sharp knowledge on the topic of Mining, reliability, and maintenance, finishing with some wise words that should not be missed. Kick back and Enjoy, and Please leave any feedback comments or questions below
01:10 Gerard current role & involvement in Mining
02:30 Beer review – Coopers Session Ale
04:30 Where to find Gerard and Bluefield
05:50 A brief summary of Gerard’s expansive experience across 30+ years of Mining
10:50 Gerard’s decision to start Bluefield Asset Management
11:36 Starting a business in the Mining Industry
13:00 Memorable experience working in so many different countries
14:32 Working in snow-covered equipment
15:30 What’s contributed most to your career success?
17:38 What Gerard anticipates to see in the future of Mining
19:08 Thoughts and involvement with AI and future technology
20:10 The future of Renewables and what’s currently holding them back
23:22 “Simplifying Mining Maintenance” is a book Gerard has authored, he tells us about what it’s about and who its for
26:44 The importance of communication in Mining Technical Questions
31:00 Mining equipment that is over-maintained
34:00 Flaws in maintenance strategies
37:15 Team morale
41:30 How do heavy-handed operators curb the culture
43:42 Book Recommendations
45:44 Gerard’s wise final words
Show notes Fit4Fifo Contact:
Website – https://fit4fifoaustralia.com
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/fit4fifoaust…
Youtube – https://youtu.be/addme/TesX_vUTRDZjb-…
Spotify – https://spoti.fi/2JTIRXd
Apple Podcast – https://apple.co/2YBEdkT
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/fit4fifoaus…
Linkedin – https://linkedin.com/company/fit4fifo
Bluefield Asset Management Contact:
Website – https://bluefield.com.au
Linkedin – https://www.linkedin.com/company/blue…
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/bluefieldams/
BOOKS referred to during Episode:
Gerard’s book: Simplifying Mining Maintenance: https://simplifyingminingmaintenance.com
Bullshift: https://www.bullshift.com/buy-the-book/
Extreme ownership: https://www.amazon.com.au/Extreme-Own…
RCM 2 (Reliability-Centered Maintenance Second Edition): https://www.amazon.com/Reliability-Ce…