Last fall, I used this space to write about continuous improvement and how a publishing house is similar to a manufacturing plant. The ability to "turn on a dime" is what keeps a publication up and running–and clearly what separates it from the rest of the pack.

That being said, Applied Technology Publications, Inc. has accepted the resignation of Terry Wireman, Editorial Director of MAINTENANCE TECHNOLOGY and LUBRICATION & FLUID POWER magazines, effective April 19, 2006. Terry has chosen to pursue other interests, and we wish him all the best in his new endeavors.

While we will miss Terry,we’re pleased to report that Jane Alexander, former Managing Editor, has been named Editor. Although it’s a new title, Jane will continue to do what she does best: that is managing what goes in our magazines, where it comes from and how it looks when it is published. The real news here is the all-star team of top industry experts with which Jane regularly will be working in order to get the job done.

We are delighted to announce that Rick Dunn has joined our team as Editorial Consultant. Rick has been involved in the maintenance and reliability field for many years and will be providing his expertise to us beginning with the next issues of our magazines. His knowledge of industry issues and his background in the editorial arena will ensure that MAINTENANCE TECHNOLOGY and LUBRICATION & FLUID POWER continue to be the premier publications in the areas of asset management and equipment reliability.

We also are pleased to announce the addition of three Contributing Editors to our masthead.

Starting next month,well-known industry icon Bob Williamson will be writing MAINTENANCE TECHNOLOGY’S "Uptime" column. Bob is an internationally recognized consultant, author and educator in the area of modern manufacturing. He has over 30 years of experience with production operations and maintenance improvement–and a true passion for what he does. You can count on Bob’s compelling monthly commentary to keep you up-to-date on industry issues and trends.

Two other regular columnists will be joining MAINTENANCE TECHNOLOGY on an alternating monthly basis.

Steve Thomas will begin a column on change management issues in June, and continue to write on those issues every other month thereafter. Steve’s column will be rotating with one by Ken Bannister. Already well respected for his regular features in LUBRICATION & FLUID POWER, Ken will contribute to MAINTENANCE TECHNOLOGY on the important (but often overlooked) topic of communication in industrial settings.

We hope you are as excited as we are about our expanded editorial team. As we move forward, keep in mind that our publications will continue to focus on best practices and how you can meet those goals in your operations. We also will be covering more organizations that have achieved that coveted "Best Practice" status. This will allow you to learn from your successful peers–those who have been able to initiate and, very importantly, sustain changes in their organizations.

Let us hear from you, end users and advertisers alike.We’re eager to share your messages with others as we all continue to improve and grow. MT