Communication, not skill or technology, is the real bottleneck on most factory floors. That’s according to fitter-turned-business-owner Ian Cooper, who argues it’s lean manufacturing’s unspoken eighth waste: when maintenance and operations don’t understand each other’s constraints, Band-Aid fixes quietly become permanent and trust erodes. 

Ian grew up inside the trade, but deliberately didn’t start there, choosing to complete his apprenticeship outside his father’s business so no one would see him as anything but another young guy in industry. Now running his own safety, reporting and communication company, Workex, and working across manufacturing sites nationally, he’s spent years on the tools as a fitter and machinist, giving him a firsthand view of the widening skills gap in Australian trades. 

Ian discusses with Ishan what operations and maintenance consistently misunderstand about each other, and why upskilling existing operators and simply opening factory doors to young people may do more for the trade deficit than any formal training pipeline. 

Ian’s book recommendation 
The Goal by Eliyahu Goldratt https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/0884271951/ 

Workex 
https://www.workex.com.au/ 

For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: 
https://ishangalapathy.com/books/ 

More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: 
https://ishangalapathy.com/ 

Communication, not skill or technology, is the real bottleneck on most factory floors. That&rsquo;s according to fitter-turned-business-owner Ian Cooper, who argues it&rsquo;s lean manufacturing&rsquo;s unspoken eighth waste: when maintenance and operations don&rsquo;t understand each other&rsquo;s constraints, Band-Aid fixes quietly become permanent and trust erodes.&nbsp;
Ian grew up inside the trade, but deliberately didn&rsquo;t start there, choosing to complete his apprenticeship outside his father&rsquo;s business so no one would see him as anything but another young guy in industry. Now running his own safety, reporting and communication company, Workex, and working across manufacturing sites nationally, he&rsquo;s spent years on the tools as a fitter and machinist, giving him a firsthand view of the widening skills gap in Australian trades.&nbsp;
Ian discusses with Ishan what operations and maintenance consistently misunderstand about each other, and why upskilling existing operators and simply opening factory doors to young people may do more for the trade deficit than any formal training pipeline.&nbsp;
Ian&rsquo;s book recommendation&nbsp; The Goal by Eliyahu Goldratt <a href="https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/0884271951/">https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/0884271951/</a>&nbsp;
Workex&nbsp; <a href="https://www.workex.com.au/">https://www.workex.com.au/</a>&nbsp;
For a copy of Ishan&rsquo;s book, Unlock, please visit:&nbsp; <a href="https://ishangalapathy.com/books/">https://ishangalapathy.com/books/</a>&nbsp;
More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his &lsquo;Chaos to Excellence&rsquo; White Paper:&nbsp; <a href="https://ishangalapathy.com/">https://ishangalapathy.com/</a>&nbsp;

If you're immersed in the world of manufacturing or supply chain management, you've likely encountered the elusive concept of excellence. But what does it truly mean? Is it a destination or a journey? And how do we navigate the path to unlock excellence within ourselves and our organisations?

With more than 25 years’ experience in manufacturing across the Asia Pacific region, Ishan Galapathy delves into the heart of excellence, shifting the focus from tools and technology to the true drivers of success: our people.

Ishan shares insights and techniques honed from years of working with teams and leaders, helping them unleash their hidden potential and achieve remarkable results. Whether it's uncovering hidden capacity or fostering a culture of continuous improvement, he explores practical strategies for unlocking excellence in your workplace.

https://ishangalapathy.com/

If you're immersed in the world of manufacturing or supply chain management, you've likely encountered the elusive concept of excellence. But what does it truly mean? Is it a destination or a journey? And how do we navigate the path to unlock excellence within ourselves and our organisations?
With more than 25 years’ experience in manufacturing across the Asia Pacific region, Ishan Galapathy delves into the heart of excellence, shifting the focus from tools and technology to the true drivers of success: our people.
Ishan shares insights and techniques honed from years of working with teams and leaders, helping them unleash their hidden potential and achieve remarkable results. Whether it's uncovering hidden capacity or fostering a culture of continuous improvement, he explores practical strategies for unlocking excellence in your workplace.
<a href="https://ishangalapathy.com/">https://ishangalapathy.com/</a>

Excellence Unlocked delves into the heart of excellence, shifting the focus from tools and technology to the true drivers of success: our people