When it comes right down to it, we know quite a bit about Santa Claus.

We know he prefers a cold climate.  We know he’s all about the color red.  We know he’s married to a long-suffering woman.  We know his reindeer can fly for some not-very-clear reason – and occasionally need their red-nosed peer to guide them through a foggy Christmas Eve.  And we know his workshop is operated by elves.

We’re going to go out on a limb here, and suggest one other likely fact about ol’ St. Nick and his workshop:  The big guy has a predictive maintenance program in place in that toy factory.

How could he not?

Imagine Santa’s out on his annual trip to the shopping centers of America, letting little kids crawl up on his lap and tell him what they want to find under the tree on Christmas Day.  Imagine that there’s no condition-based maintenance program in place back at the North Pole.  The next thing you know, the head elf is sending the boss a text to explain that the machine that makes the dolls’ eyes has broken down, oil is leaking from the toy car production line, and there’s a strange buzz coming from jack-in-the-box spring loading unit.  It’s late November, Santa’s list just keeps getting longer, and the factory is about to come to a screeching halt.

Would Father Christmas let that happen?

No!  Santa’s been in this business a long time and there’s simply no way he’s crossing his fingers and hoping his equipment holds up during the most crucial part of the holiday season.  Instead, he must have periodic (maybe even continuous) equipment monitoring in place.  He and the elves have got to be aware of issues before they become the kinds of problems that stop production.

This isn’t just the most cost effective way to go, though it certainly is that, it’s also the only way Santa can be sure he’ll have all the toys he needs on that all-important Christmas Eve flight.  If the workshop keeps running, all will be well!

So, this holiday season, ask yourself:  Has Santa ever steered you wrong?

Maybe this is the year to put a predictive maintenance program on your Christmas list.  Santa could tell you that it’s the gift that keeps on giving—all year ’round.

Happy holidays to you and yours from all of us at Advanced Technology Solutions!