Will Ocean with Maintain Reliability
Industrial Talk is onsite at Xcelerate 2026 and talking to Will Ocean, Managing Director with Maintain Reliability about “Operational success starts with reliability”.
The conversation revolves around the Fluke Xcelerate 2026 event, which focused on reliability, predictive maintenance, and AI diagnostics. Scott MacKenzie, the host of the Industrial Talk Podcast, interviews Will Ocean, a Managing Director at Maintain Reliability, about the importance of culture and technology in industrial operations. They discuss the challenges of implementing reliability strategies, the need for mentorship and training, and the difficulty of measuring the ROI of preventive measures. Will emphasizes the importance of a cultural shift towards reliability and the role of thought leaders in inspiring and educating the next generation of industry professionals.
Julian Knabe with Fluke
Industrial Talk is onsite at Xcelerate 2026 and talking to Julian Knabe, Senior Director with Fluke about “Adapt and Evolve to Markets”.
The conversation features Scott Mackenzie from the Industrial Talk podcast discussing the Fluke Xcelerate event in Austin, Texas, with Julian Knabe, a finance professional at Fluke. Julian shares his experience transitioning from cost-cutting to strategic finance, focusing on growth and customer impact. He highlights Fluke’s extensive product portfolio, including over 50,000 SKUs, and identifies high-growth markets like data centers, distributed energy, renewables, and defense. The discussion emphasizes the importance of AI and technology in enhancing efficiency and customer workflows, and the need for companies to adapt and innovate to meet evolving market demands.
Tom Fletcher with Projective
Industrial Talk is talking to Tom Fletcher, Sr. Project Manager at Projective Engineering about “Utility management and optimization”.
Scott Mackenzie introduces Elevotec’s ERP, EAM, and business intelligence solutions, emphasizing their ROI and expertise. He then welcomes Tom Fletcher from Projective Engineering, discussing asset management and utilities. Tom shares his background in utilities and Projective’s focus on optimizing utility operations. They discuss the challenges of managing aging assets, the importance of proactive maintenance, and the role of AI in improving efficiency. Tom highlights Projective’s role in helping clients achieve sustainability goals and manage risks. Scott stresses the need for industry professionals to inspire the next generation and effectively communicate the industry’s value.
Chris Napier with Augury
Industrial Talk is onsite at SMRP 2025 and talking to Chris Napier, Reliability Success Manager at Augury about “Predictive maintenance with AI”.
Chris Napier, a predictive maintenance technician with Augury, discussed the evolution of maintenance and reliability practices over 25 years. Augury’s predictive maintenance platform uses advanced sensors and AI algorithms to monitor machine health, integrating with CMMS systems via APIs. Napier emphasized the importance of a solid foundation in reliability practices, such as building a comprehensive Bill of Materials (BOM) in CMMS systems, to effectively utilize new technology. He highlighted the role of human expertise in refining algorithms and ensuring effective preventative maintenance. Napier also stressed the importance of trust and collaboration in implementing and optimizing maintenance strategies.
Mark Pattison Finding Your Summit
Industrial Talk is onsite at Xcelerate 2026 and talking to Mark Pattison, NFL 2 Seven Summits about “Finding your summit”.
Mark Pattison, a former NFL player and keynote speaker at Fluke’s Xcelerate event, shared his journey of climbing Mount Everest and the Seven Summits. He discussed overcoming public speaking fears, dealing with snow blindness at 26,500 feet, and the challenges of high-altitude climbing. Pattison emphasized the importance of resilience, faith, and daily discipline. He also highlighted his new book, “Finding Your Summit,” and his involvement with Higher Ground, a nonprofit supporting military and first responders. Pattison’s story underscored the human spirit’s resilience and the transformative power of setting and achieving ambitious goals.
