ILMA Compoundings - June 2021 - 46

Cross Connections
Pandemic 2021: Are We Back to Normal Yet?
By Ed Salek
T
he global tribology and lubricants community, like
all other business and technical segments of the
economy, has been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic
during the past 15 months. Many questions remain
about when things might return to a more normal state.
Against this backdrop, the Society for Tribologists and
Lubrication Engineers (STLE) recently asked a small group
of members to provide a sense of how they have been
affected by the pandemic and what might be different as the
industry adapts and finds its new normal. In general, the
survey showed that the pandemic has forced tribologists all
over the world, in both research and industry, to adapt to
changes in the work environment, logistics, health regulations
and communication.
While some of the more than 60 people participating
reported little change in their day-to-day work life, many
listed virtual work formats, restriction of travel and customer
visits, reduced lab time and even layoffs as major
struggles during this time.
Most of the respondents (55%) said that their job role
is now more complex. The primary cause cited was less
interaction with customers and colleagues because of health
and travel restrictions. Many individuals pointed out that
problem-solving is much more difficult when customer-site
visits are not possible. Others noted that training via
digital media has been a best-option alternative, but many
expressed a preference for and saw more value in face-toface
formats.
The fact that there have been fewer industry trade shows
and technical conferences also makes the job of an industry
professional more challenging. It becomes more difficult
to keep up with changes in markets and technology and
reduces opportunities to meet new customers or to maintain
relationships with existing ones.
Another headache: Difficult supply situations have created
periodic emergencies in obtaining products for customers,
mostly due to transportation issues. There also have been
drastic swings in raw material costs, supply and demand.
In contrast to the complexities and difficulties of work
in a pandemic world, respondents did find some positives
to balance the negative impacts. Nearly one-third of those
46
JUNE 2021 | COMPOUNDINGS | ILMA.ORG
responding felt that this experience has enabled them to
become better at their job for a variety of reasons.
One prevalent and obvious factor cited by many was
the shift to working from home and less travel. Working
remotely meant more family time, more thinking time and
more training time.
As one person explained, a company stay-at-home order
allowed them to expand knowledge with webinar attendance
and brush up on previously learned skills. Many said
that they're now more competent at video meetings, leading
to the use of online tools for more frequent contact with
customers and lubricant suppliers.
The quality of meetings themselves also might have gotten
better in the virtual environment. Several people noted
an improvement in the focus and priorities of meetings
compared to past practices.
When asked about the future, people saw several things
changing for the better because of the pandemic experience.
There will likely be more focus on plant work safety based
on lessons learned and practices adopted from pandemicdriven
precautions. Greater use of and familiarity with
online tools could expand the acceptance by customers of
remote monitoring of in-service lubes.
Daily cooperation and teamwork might be more
ingrained in organizational DNA because of the pandemic.
IN NETWORK
http://www.ILMA.ORG
ILMA Compoundings - June 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ILMA Compoundings - June 2021
