What Maintenance Managers Need to Know About Sleep and Fatigue

Insights from Noria’s Reliable Plant Conference 2025

Maintenance worker falling asleep on the job

Throughout the week of the conference, I had the opportunity to speak with hundreds of maintenance managers, sharing innovations, solving challenges, and building community. These conversations underscored how committed this community is to improving operations, safety, and team well-being.

I was honored to deliver a keynote on a topic that doesn’t always get the spotlight it deserves: the hidden impact of sleep and fatigue in the workplace.

We often think about fatigue as just “being tired,” but it’s so much more than that. Fatigue affects reaction time, decision-making, productivity, and even emotional regulation—factors that are critical in maintenance environments where safety and precision matter every second of the day.

One of the most common responses I heard after the keynote was: "I had no idea sleep worked that way." That reaction tells me we're on the right track—because raising awareness is the first step toward meaningful change.

To build on the conversation, I hosted a breakout session focused on how maintenance schedules can be optimized, much like a pit crew in racing. We looked at real-world scheduling strategies, shift design, and hurdles that can impact team performance.

It was encouraging to see so much interest in practical steps organizations can take—whether that’s adjusting shift rotations, creating fatigue risk management plans, or simply educating teams about alternative schedules that are more efficient.

Why This Matters

Fatigue management isn’t just a health or HR issue. It’s a safety, productivity, and operational efficiency issue. By integrating fatigue science into workforce planning and maintenance scheduling, organizations can reduce errors, prevent injuries, and improve team morale.

Let’s Keep the Conversation Going

If you weren’t able to attend the event or want to learn more about how fatigue impacts your maintenance workforce, please CONTACT | coleman-consulting. We offer workforce assessments, training, and strategy sessions that help companies put these insights into action.