The Case for a Fluids Czar

摘要

You cannot maintain the equipment of today with the tools, technologies and mindsets of yesterday. The old rope shovel in the picture burned almost anything for fuel, oil was black and dirty, and water was all you needed for a coolant. Preventive maintenance was all but nonexistent, and any day without some sort of mechanical failure was a good day. Fluids were of no concern: Anything would do as long as it was reasonably clean and in the right place. Maintenance was easy, and anyone could do it.