It’s Not the Tech—It’s the Culture: Dr. Klaus Blache on Why Implementations Fail
- Jessica Duffield
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
In this short clip, Dr. Klaus Blache breaks down why technology implementations often fail—not because of the tools, but because of the people, processes, and culture behind them.
Why Do Technology Implementations Fail?
Let's face it, introducing new technology in a plant seems promising at first... until it's actually implemented. What begins as an exciting upgrade can soon turn into a frustrating ordeal with poor adoption, miscommunication, and a lack of tangible results.
So why does this occur?
Dr. Klaus Blache, Director of the Reliability & Maintainability Center at the University of Tennessee, suggests that technology frequently fails not due to the tools themselves, but because of the context in which they are used. And that’s exactly what he will discuss in his upcoming session at the Smart Factory Institute's Automation, Maintenance & Reliability Summit on May 2nd.
He’s Said It Before—And the Data Backs It Up
A poor company culture can lead to significant challenges, ultimately causing tech initiatives to fail. Here are some ways in which a negative culture can lead to tech implementation failures:
Resistance to Change: Employees may resist adopting new technologies if they feel disconnected from the company's vision or fear that their roles may be threatened, leading to low engagement and ineffective implementation.
Lack of Communication: Poor communication within the organization can result in misunderstandings about the purpose and benefits of new technologies, causing confusion and reluctance to embrace change.
Insufficient Training and Support: A culture that does not prioritize employee development may fail to provide adequate training for new technologies, leaving staff ill-prepared and frustrated.
Short-Term Focus: Companies that prioritize short-term results over long-term growth may neglect the necessary investments in technology and culture that foster sustainable improvement.
Low Morale and Engagement: A toxic work environment can lead to low employee morale, which negatively impacts productivity and can cause valuable team members to leave, further complicating tech implementation efforts.
“Over 70% of companies identify culture as their biggest barrier to adopting best practices in reliability and maintenance", states Dr. Blache.
Cultural roadblock combined with unclear ownership and inconsistent follow through is what holds back even the most promising technology initiatives. When companies aren’t getting the results they expect from technology, the root causes are usually not technical at all:
“The top answers are always around the same: dysfunctional processes, culture doesn’t support it, don’t have ownership, or people don’t want to change. And often, the reason for that is they think they’re doing better than they are.”
In other words, the real challenge is getting teams to recognize the truth about where they are, and being willing to change. Whether it’s poor planning, lack of follow through, or a culture that resists accountability, success only comes when people, process, and technology are aligned.
Looking Ahead to the Automation, Maintenance & Reliability Summit: Join Us May 2nd
During his session, “Implementing Reliability Centered Maintenance,” Dr. Blache will share how to overcome those challenges and make your systems actually work. He’ll cover how to:
Align people, processes, and tools from the start
Create a culture that supports reliability and change
Establish real ownership and accountability
Evaluate your current maturity honestly and act accordingly
Because implementing technology is one thing. Making it stick? That’s where the real work begins.
Whether you are leading a plant, overseeing maintenance, or simply looking to excel in industrial reliability, this summit offers practical strategies that you can implement at your facility.
And don’t forget: attendees also have the chance to go on an exclusive tour of Southeastern Container, where you’ll see real-world examples of automation.
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