Jim Short

Jim has long experience in chemical plant operations, engineering, consultancy, capital project development, review and implementation.

In the areas of design, operations, construction, and technical support of developed and new alumina projects in Ireland, Africa, the USA, and other parts of the world.

He has applied asset management and capital project expertise from the alumina industry to other sectors with significant effect. He has developed “Zero Loss” systems for plant operations, capital projects, asset management, due diligence assessments, and safety.

B2B Communication: The 4:1 Ratio for Business Success

A visual metaphor showing a brain split into two halves—one chaotic with tangled wires and communication bubbles (the sender), the other clear and glowing with digital circuits (the receiver)—over a quote by George Bernard Shaw: "The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.

Communication is a cornerstone of business success, but it can also be a significant source of loss, especially with the numerous communication methods available, particularly social media. It is surprisingly easy for communication to be destructive rather than constructive. To manage communication effectively and drive positive business outcomes, organizations and their leaders must focus on a […]

The Impact of Workplace Distractions on Performance

Motivational quote by William Arthur Ward about focusing on solutions, displayed over a business setting with a laptop and documents.

The Importance of Focus To achieve any outcome, we must focus on the activities and tasks required to deliver required performance. Yet humans often struggle with workplace distractions. We allow distractions to creep in, reducing our focus on a task and creating a loss. When focus diminishes: Routine tasks take longer. Errors occur, requiring rework […]

Accidents Never Happen

Visual contrast showing 'ACCIDENT (By Chance?)' crossed out, moving toward 'INCIDENT (Negligence/Action).' The image depicts a cracked screen with a broken clock on the left, and a silhouette of a person stopping an action next to misaligned gears on the right. Text reads: Accidents Never Happen: Understand the True Cause of Loss.

The Myth of the ‘Accident’ Over a long career investigating and researching thousands of loss incidents, I have never encountered an actual accident. The definition of an accident is an incident that happens by chance. In every case investigated, the incident stemmed from negligence, not chance. Even when individuals didn’t intend to cause harm, their […]

Zero-Loss Starts with You: Values-Driven Leadership

Illustration of a pull leadership concept showing a leader at the front, gently guiding a diverse team towards a shared goal, highlighting humility, collaboration, and focus on zero-loss culture.

One of the most insightful leadership concepts I’ve encountered comes from the book Good to Great by Professor Jim Collins. (ISBN-13: 978-0066620992). In it, he explores how average companies make the leap to excellence and what distinguishes them from the rest. His research, conducted over five years with Jerry Porras and focused on Fortune 500 […]

Condition Based Maintenance (CBM) Can Reduce Equipment Downtime by 30% and Cut Maintenance Costs

AI Generated image of technicians in hard hats examining a pump

Traditional maintenance approaches—reactive repairs and scheduled maintenance—are no longer sufficient in today’s competitive landscape. Condition Based Maintenance (CBM) represents a paradigm shift from “fix it when it breaks” to “fix it when data tells us to.” This article explores how CBM transforms equipment maintenance from a cost center into a strategic advantage, delivering measurable ROI […]

Zero-Based Budgeting Drives Profitability and Sustainability in a CBM World

In today’s competitive business landscape, every dollar spent must deliver measurable value. For many organizations, maintenance remains a significant cost center, often seen as a necessary expense rather than a strategic investment. However, based on extensive experience in maintenance, operations, and project management, there is a powerful synergy that fundamentally shifts this paradigm: the integration […]