Gear Talk

Author: Noria Corporation

Welcome to Gear Talk, the podcast that connects maintenance & reliability professionals with reliable information, insights, and experts, enabling them to accomplish their goals more effectively, efficiently and enthusiastically. Join Wes Cash each month as he talks shop with industry experts, thought leaders, and the folks in the trenches keeping industry moving.
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The CMMS is Dead. Long Live the CMMS!
Episode 35
Sunday, 16 August, 2026

What if the biggest problem with CMMS isn’t the technology, but how people actually use it? In this episode of Gear Talk, Wes Cash sits down with UpKeep founder Ryan Chan to talk about where CMMS came from, where it’s headed and how emerging technology is changing the way maintenance teams capture information, analyze data and get work done. Ryan shares how his own experience with cumbersome, desktop-based maintenance software led to the creation of UpKeep, and why putting technicians first can make the difference between useful maintenance data and another digital filing cabinet. The conversation also looks ahead at AI, voice interfaces, connected technicians and what these tools could mean for reliability over the next decade. You’ll learn about: Why traditional CMMS workflows often struggle with technician adoption How better usability can lead to better maintenance data Why collecting more data doesn’t automatically create more value How AI can help teams make sense of years of maintenance history Where AI can support RCA, FMEA, diagnosis and decision-making How voice-driven inspections are already changing maintenance workflows Why the connected technician may be closer than many plants realize What maintenance teams can do now instead of waiting for the “perfect” technology Whether your plant is still working from paper, already experimenting with AI or somewhere in between, this conversation offers a practical look at how CMMS technology is evolving and why the people using it still matter most. Learn about this episode's sponsor at https://www.assetwatch.com/get-started?utm_source=noria&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=podcast-ads-wes&utm_term=q1-2026&utm_content=get-started ▶️ Watch more Gear Talk episodes: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUMZtxzM4WqOBC53dsyVBi6FQGWsMDPT4 👉 Have questions or topic ideas? Email us at podcast@noria.com 👍 Like and Subscribe to stay connected with Gear Talk.