IVAN
GETOV
Built to Last. Built to Lead.
Maintenance leader, manufacturing professional, husband and father — writing about the craft of keeping things running.
Free. No spam. Read by people who build things.
Maintenance Leader
10+ YEARS
10+ YEARS OF KEEPING
THINGS RUNNING.
I've spent my career inside manufacturing facilities — not in the boardroom, but on the floor. Managing maintenance teams, troubleshooting equipment failures at 2 AM, and building the systems that keep production moving when everything is on the line.
Leadership, to me, isn't a title. It's showing up consistently, raising the standards around you, and investing in the people on your team. The same principles that drive operational excellence apply everywhere — including at home.
“The best maintenance plan is one your team actually follows — and the best leadership is the kind that outlasts your tenure.”
Outside work, I'm a husband and father — and that's shaped how I think about everything. Every standard I set, every habit I build, every decision I make: I'm teaching my kid what it looks like to do things right.
By the Numbers
FROM THE FIELD
All articlesFeedback Without Fear: Why Most Leaders Give It Wrong
The reason feedback is hard isn't a skill gap. It's a timing problem.
The Drift Problem: How Good Teams Slowly Stop Being Good
Standards don't collapse. They drift — incrementally, almost invisibly — until nobody can explain when the change occurred.
Why Great Leaders Don't Need Charisma (And Why That's Actually Good News)
Being liked and building a functional system are related, but they're not the same thing.
Predictive vs Preventive: Why the Difference Matters on the Floor
Most teams default to preventive schedules. Here's when to make the case for predictive — and how to sell it upward.
What Leading Shift Workers Taught Me About Consistency
There is no 'off' in a 24/7 facility. The lessons from managing rotating shifts apply far beyond the plant.
Five Things Manufacturing Taught Me About Raising Kids
Lean thinking, root cause analysis, and standard work — turns out these apply at home too.
Kaizen for the Individual: Continuous Improvement Isn't Just for Plants
The same philosophy that drives manufacturing excellence can transform personal growth — if you apply it honestly.
Building a Maintenance Culture That Outlasts You
Equipment can be replaced. A team's commitment to care cannot. Here's how to make maintenance a value, not a task.