6/13/07 - Life in Breakdown Mode Case #127.3

Naperville, Illinois - Bob Underhill, 46, lives to perform reactive maintenance. Aside from his generous contribution to excessive downtime at the plant, his personal life is completely reactive as well.

He eats whatever he wants and considers exercise to be optional. When it comes to seeing his physician for an annual checkup he gripes and groans about not feeling bad enough to need the doctor.

In fact, he's gotten used to feeling bad. It's normal to feel a little "green behind the gills" now. When he goes to work and the plant is running poorly it makes him feel better because misery loves company.

Bob had a bit of a scare a couple months back with that pesky "heart attack" incident. But, it was nothing a few days in the hospital and major surgery couldn't fix. It's a lot like when the main cooling tower goes down at the plant. You just deal with it and move on. All in a day's work.

Are you in breakdown mode?