Why are we steadily whittling away at XOM’s greatest asset?
The core of this company is the people in the field — the ones closest to the valve, making the daily decisions that move the bottom line. They generate the revenue that pays for the showy buildings in Spring.
Do the people at the top not realize that plants run on experience? Do they really believe the latest flavor-of-the-day program will prevent injuries and losses?
How much faith have they put in the idea that anyone can pick up a procedure and start up a refinery? That’s you, Joliet.
In the end, it is onsite technical expertise that keeps this thing going. You cannot run a refinery from the other side of the world, and it is naive to think you can. You cannot plan a turnaround from there. You cannot even plan a simple seal replacement. I have seen it firsthand.
When will XOM finally admit the error of its ways? DEI was a disaster. Ridding the company of some of the brightest minds and replacing them with people who are not up to standard just to save a little money in the end will be a trainwreck.
We talk constantly about our reputation with the public. What do you think we are doing to our reputation with the people we still need to hire? It only takes a moment of talking to any XOM employees to realize what you are walking into. Even an intern can grasp that concept. Apparently the billions are just not enough.
Take note of King Midas. Sometimes the price of wanting more is your own destruction.