The thought of grabbing a beer and sitting down to read an article on industrial valves may not have ever occurred to professionals in the water-wastewater, oil & gas, or related industry, but there is a genesis for everything. While it has probably been done, the experience has not yet been printed, and as ‘Beer Pairing’ goes, one can assume that most individuals do not typically pair a beer with a valve article.
Instead, many individuals will enjoy beer paired with BBQ, dessert, or an entrée. As all these combinations sound wonderful and offer a unique experience, one may ponder, is an ‘industrial valve and beer pairing’ possible? And what are the benefits?
By Chad Pilbeam – Contributor
Valve publications are often recognized for their ability to offer valuable insight into industry trends and support the pursuit of knowledge. As valves never stop evolving, it is imperative that industry professionals continually work to advance the field and its technological initiatives.
For those not in the industry, there is often a lack of awareness of valves, as well as a general lack of appreciation of how many applications rely on industrial valves. “Are valves not just valves?” Of course not, just like “beer is not just beer”.
Beer may have done a better job of gaining the awareness that it deserves because it is consumed by people regardless of their profession. That does not, however, mean that beer does not have a stigma. There are many individuals who think ‘beer is just beer’ or ‘all beer is the same’; this is not the case. Just like valves, beer production is a highly specialized and sophisticated industry. It too has the appearance of being constant but is ever-evolving. Perhaps that is why these two make such a good pairing.
Elevating Awareness
One does not need to be a psychologist to understand that pairing two things together can help facilitate a greater understanding. Those individuals who enjoy beer may have a greater appreciation for this comparison, but even those who do not drink will understand the concept. Experience with a topic or an asset does not come from talking about it in its specific jargon, it is about using beer as a ‘lens’ to offer perspective. Be open, see things differently, think creatively, speak concisely, and invent new ways to move initiatives forward. All of this can be done in the valve industry as well.
The saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”, but there is another saying and it goes “Just because it works, doesn’t mean we can’t do it better.”
What if everything I ever needed to know about industrial valves, I learned from beer? While this is not the case, this type of thinking opens the possibility for new ideas, and new solutions. If nothing else, having a beer while pursuing constant improvement through knowledge transfer also makes a great pairing.
New Perspectives
The valve industry is developing and changing much like beer in a bottle (beer is a living organism and changes over time), so putting it off until later serves no one well. Be intentional and consistent. Beer is made to be consumed; it does not belong in a museum, so drink it; the latest industrial valve article does not belong on the shelf or sitting unopened in an inbox, read it.
In much the same way as taking a new route to work forces the driver to notice subtle details, relevant technical articles offer new exposure to many topics that the reader has become accustomed to in their day-to-day lives. It is therefore important to diversify how one approaches their consumption of material and ensure that it is making an impression. What if the highlights of the article were written on a beer coaster while sipping on a Double IPA? Would they be more memorable? Could a new application for the latest Smart Valve technology emerge while sharing a 750ml bottle of Bourbon Barrel Aged Russian Imperial Stout?
All things in moderation. Try to read too much and retention is low. Try to drink too much and retention is lower! But combining something that most people like to do with something that most people have to do can increase the retention of information and increase the overall enjoyment of the process. It is the unscientific conclusion that combining the two interests will produce a result that is greater than the sum of the parts.
Routine stifles creativity, and creativity is a prominent source of success. It stands to reason that anything outside of the routine removes itself from the path that leads to all things nominal, marginal, or ordinary. This does not mean that brewers need to be convinced to change from their Tri-Clamp Butterfly Valves and use the more common Globe Valve. Change for the sake of change does not make sense. It could, however, mean that new Auto Valve technologies could improve flow rate control during Wort Transfer and Sparging (both are brewing processes). It could also mean that a brewer’s ability to develop a new yeast that works in both warm and cold temperature fermentation (a recent scientific development that has yielded new beer styles) might inspire a field engineer to see a new application for an industrial valve.
Looking Forward
The industrial valve industry and beer industry share a common motivation – though a mature market, they are always evolving and never settling. Valve professionals should see this as inspiration.
To see potential innovation of valves in a mature market is to pursue continuous improvement. The way to do this is to look at valves through a creative lens. That is what employers want, clients need, and applications demand.
Being creative does not mean being irresponsible. A significant amount of time is devoted to being responsible with valve talk and solutions, but when is time given to being creative? Fact: scientists have determined that drinking two beers increases your creativity.
In the pursuit of knowledge through the reading of articles on design and application for industrial valves, seek opportunities to discuss what was learned through a creative lens. Make the conversation memorable. Raise a glass and toast the author of that new industrial valve article; a new technology and beer pairing may have just been discovered.
REFERENCE
Consciousness and Cognition. (2017). University of Graza – Department of Psychology, Austria.
