Reliability
Lessons From the Floor
by Emilio Giuseppe Sarno Severi

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Over three decades of global experience in asset management, maintenance, and reliability have shaped this deeply personal and insightful exploration of what is required to keep complex industrial systems running. From the oil fields to mines, from manufacturing facilities to utilities to municipal infrastructure, Emilio Sarno has worked with tradespeople, engineers, and executives, learning and sharing invaluable lessons about the operation and maintenance of the assets that move our world forward. This honest reflection is an experience-driven guide to the dos and don’ts of reliability, drawn from a career that spans management, engineering, project leadership, and consulting across industries and continents. Mr. Sarno shares hard-earned insights, cautionary tales, and philosophical perspectives that may challenge conventional thinking. Whether you're a frontline technician, a reliability engineer, or a leader navigating the complexities of asset performance, this book offers practical wisdom from a seasoned professional. This work is also a tribute to the unsung heroes who ensure our physical assets perform as expected, day in and day out, even with limited resources and under immense pressure. Expect stories, not formulas. Expect disagreement, not dogma. Above all, expect a thoughtful contribution to the ongoing conversation about reliability within the broader context of asset management.

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Emilio Sarno is a seasoned asset management professional with a career spanning multiple industries and continents. From his early work building fire protection systems to leading reliability initiatives in oil and gas, manufacturing, mining, utilities, and municipalities, Mr. Sarno brings a wealth of hands-on experience and strategic insight to the field. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Universidad Simón Bolívar in Venezuela and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering and industrial engineering from the University of Washington in the United States. He is also a Certified Reliability Engineer and a Certified Asset Management Professional. Mr. Sarno is passionate about mentoring and coaching others in asset management, maintenance, and reliability, helping professionals at all levels build, operate, and maintain resilient, high-performing systems. He lives in Burlington, Ontario, with his wife, Maria Carolina; their two children, Antonio and Maria José; and their dog, Bruno.

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Contributors

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Emilio Giuseppe Sarno Severi