The text discusses the importance of maintenance and repair in various contexts, focusing on the example of the New York City subway system. It highlights the challenges faced by the MTA in maintaining and repairing aging train cars, and the need for a comprehensive maintenance approach to ensure their longevity. The text also explores the tension between sustainability and maintenance, and the role of capitalism in shaping attitudes towards maintenance. It argues that maintenance should be valued and prioritized, and suggests that a new economic system is needed to support this shift. Additionally, the text examines the implications of maintenance for addressing climate change and other global challenges.
| Signal | Change | 10y horizon | Driving force |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aging infrastructure | From neglect to maintenance | Improved maintenance practices, increased investment in infrastructure | Recognition of the importance of maintenance and infrastructure investment |
| Legacy vs. millennial technology | From older to newer technology | More emphasis on repairing newer technology | Technological advancements and increased complexity |
| Crumbling infrastructure | From neglect to repair | Improved state of repair, increased investment in infrastructure | Recognition of the importance of maintenance and infrastructure investment |
| Right-to-repair movement | From limited repair options to increased repairability | Increased accessibility to repair tools and parts | Consumer demand and advocacy for repairability |
| Lack of value for maintenance | From undervalued to valued | Increased recognition and appreciation for maintenance work | Shift in societal values and priorities |
| Material scarcity | From wastefulness to resource efficiency | Increased emphasis on recycling and reusing materials | Environmental concerns and resource constraints |
| Tension between sustainability and maintenance | From emphasis on sustainability to recognition of the importance of maintenance | Greater consideration of maintenance in sustainability efforts | Shift in understanding the role of maintenance in achieving sustainability goals |
| Need for coordination and regulation | From lack of coordination to coordinated action | Improved coordination and regulation for maintenance practices | Government regulations and standards |
| Labor dynamics and incentives | From emphasis on fresh material to emphasis on labor efficiency and maintenance | Greater investment in labor and maintenance practices | Shift in economic incentives and priorities |
| Need for a coherent vision | From fragmented approach to holistic approach | Coordinated approach to maintenance and repair, consideration of social aims | Vision and leadership in shaping industrial society |
| Revaluing of maintenance work | From undervalued to valued | Increased recognition and value for maintenance work | Shift in societal values and priorities |