This highly interactive three-day seminar provides the leadership knowledge, supervisory practices, and practical tools needed to build high-performing teams and improve maintenance performance.

Through discussion, self-assessment, and practical application, participants develop a personalized improvement plan with SMART goals that strengthen their leadership effectiveness long after the seminar concludes.

• Maintenance Supervisors responsible for leading frontline maintenance teams 
• Newly promoted supervisors transitioning from craft or technical roles into leadership 
• Maintenance Team Leaders and Lead Technicians preparing for supervisory responsibilities 
• Maintenance Managers responsible for developing supervisory capability 
• Reliability, Operations, and Plant Leaders seeking to strengthen frontline leadership 
• Anyone responsible for improving maintenance team performance through effective leadership 

• A clear understanding of the value and responsibilities of a maintenance supervisor 
• Greater confidence in leading people, managing performance, and influencing organizational results 
• Practical leadership practices that improve communication, coaching, motivation, and accountability 
• A collection of supervisory tools that improve team effectiveness and operational performance 
• A personalized assessment of their leadership strengths and opportunities 
• A SMART personal development plan that transforms learning into measurable improvement

Day 1 – Foundations and the Value of Your Role

• Total Process Reliability (TPR)
• The Value of Maintenance Supervision 

Day 2 – Responsibilities, Traits, and Leadership Practices

• Maintenance Supervisor Responsibilities
• Maintenance Supervisor Character Traits
• Effective Supervisory Practices
  • Providing Visible Leadership
  • Effective Communication
  • Motivating Employees
  • Sound Decision Making
  • Delegation
  • Proper Use of Authority
  • Managing Employee Workload
  • Managing Capabilities
  • Establishing Performance Goals
  • Evaluating Performance
  • Recognition & Rewards
  • Coaching
  • Resolving Conflict
  • Correcting Unacceptable Behavior

Day 3 – Supervisor Tools and Personal Development

• A Supervisor's Tool Kit
  • 5S
  • Audits
  • Troubleshooting
  • RCA
  • KPIs
  • Skills Matrix 
  • YTT (Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow Meeting)
  • Presentations
  • Time Management
  • Coaching Session
  • Action Plan
• Personal Leadership Development Plan 

Steve Gowan

Steve Gowan is a Continuous Improvement leader with over 20 years of industrial experience and 14 years in Asset Management, Maintenance, and Reliability consulting.

He began his career in the United States Air Force as a Crew Chief on the B-1 Bomber, where he also served as an MRO Inventory Liaison. During his time at Dyess Air Force Base, he was named Airman of the Year after developing an improved inventory management process for aircraft spare parts. After his military service, Steve held engineering roles in the aerospace industry, owned his own business, and later served as an MRO Manager in the automotive sector and Plant Manager for a high-volume bakery.

Across every role, his focus has been continuous improvement. He has led initiatives in TPM, 5S, storeroom and spare parts management, employee development, root cause analysis, preventive and predictive maintenance, equipment reliability, and Lean manufacturing.

At Marshall Institute, Steve has served in several leadership roles, including Senior Consultant, Manager of Manufacturing and Training Services, Senior Manager of Manufacturing Services, Director of Consulting Services, and now Partner and Vice President. In his current role, he focuses on helping clients build practical strategies and ensuring his team delivers meaningful, measurable results.

Steve is a hands-on trainer, facilitator, and coach who works closely with clients to improve reliability, reduce costs, and build sustainable processes that stick.