by Paul V. Arnold

In my first issue as editor of MRO Today in August/September 1998, I outlined my vision for the publication. I stated the formal mission was to provide you a road map to 21st-century manufacturing success through stories that chronicle the best practices of leading corporations and information resources that increase your personal and organizational performance. Informally, I wanted MRO Today to become your magazine, a bi-monthly built for you and your needs.

We have done a lot of building since that issue.

Starting with Chrysler in the October/November 1998 issue, MRO Today began documenting the best practices of industry’s finest firms in in-depth, tell-all cover stories. Since 1999, we’ve done benchmark reports on Tenneco, AlliedSignal (now Honeywell), Borg-Warner, Raytheon, Reynolds (now Alcoa), Toyota, Batesville Casket, Ford, Lockheed Martin, Harley-Davidson, Dow Chemical, General Electric, Pillsbury and, as you saw from this issue’s cover, Boeing. 

Who’s next? You’ll have to wait for the April/May issue.

In 2000, we added MRO Coach, extremely useful columns written by true subject matter experts, and created the MRO All-Pro Team, our blue-collar employee recognition and awards program.

In 2001, we debuted www.mrotoday.com, a Web site with continually updated news, information features and handy links; and unveiled MRO Wired, our free e-mail newsletter.

Expansion continues in 2002. Think of it as Phase IV of the project. This issue, you’ll notice an addition to the MRO Coach faculty as we welcome Drew Troyer, one of the world’s foremost experts on machine lubrication. Read his column on Page 28 and you’ll know why I wanted to introduce him to you.

Also, I am overjoyed to announce that MRO Today will expand its information offerings this year into conferences, seminars and workshops. Over the past 31/2 years, we have built close friendships with amazing people doing incredible things in the areas of people management, workforce skills development, the supply chain, inventory management, maintenance and reliability, lean manufacturing, Six Sigma and plant safety. We will introduce these people to you.

The first event will be a one-day seminar done in conjunction with the Disney Institute, the education and training arm of the Walt Disney World Resort. "MRO Today presents: The Disney Keys to Excellence in Manufacturing," slated for Sept. 13 in Kenosha, Wis., will provide unique insight on leadership, people management and value chain management.

You won’t want to miss this event!

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