The Elements of Great Maintenance Management Series
How to Build expertise in maintenance
Written for: New hires, transfers from other departments, Old timers for a laugh and a reminder
These comic books are Low cost and Fun to read
- These books are fun, colorful, easy to read, and they grab attention.
- Books are the most cost-effective way to train people (and can be reused!).
JOEL D. LEVITT
Quest for Defect Elimination
$18.95 single copy of paperback, quantity discounts available
What if the root cause of most failures isn’t bad luck—but defects we’ve learned to live with? The Quest for Defect Elimination is a bold, graphic journey into the heart of reliability. With humor, insight, and vivid storytelling, Joel Levitt explores how small, overlooked flaws can snowball into major breakdowns—and how addressing them can change everything. Whether you’re a technician or a plant manager, this book will rewire how you see problems, solutions, and the future of maintenance. Read it—and start hunting the defects that are hunting you.
JOEL D. LEVITT
The Battle of Reliability
$18.95 single copy of paperback, quantity discounts available
What if the secret to world-class reliability came down to three simple actions: tighten, lubricate, and clean? Reliability: The Battle Is On is a fast-paced, illustrated journey into the hidden enemies of uptime—dirt, looseness, neglect—and the small habits that crush them. Joel Levitt combines humor, virtual simulations, and hard truth to show how breakdowns aren’t mysterious—they’re predictable, preventable, and often self-inflicted. This isn’t just a book—it’s a wake-up call for anyone who depends on machines. If your plant is losing the battle, this is your playbook to win it.
JOEL D. LEVITT
Maintenance Planning
$18.95 single copy of paperback, quantity discounts available
What if most maintenance frustration isn’t about the work—but about the barriers that get in the way? Maintenance Planning: Cuts Waste and Frustration is a bold, funny, and convenient guide that exposes the hidden time traps, chaos, and inefficiencies sabotaging wrench time. Through storytelling, humor, and hard-won insight, Joel Levitt reveals how proper planning isn’t bureaucracy—it’s the path to safer jobs, smoother operations, and higher morale. If you’re tired of wasting time looking for tools, waiting on parts, or redoing botched jobs, this book will change the way you work—and think—forever.
JOEL D. LEVITT
Lubrication
$18.95 single copy of paperback, quantity discounts available
What if the key to machine reliability, efficiency, and safety came down to something as simple—and overlooked—as lubrication? In Lubrication: The Key to Machine Immortality, Joel Levitt demystifies oil, grease, and the powerful science of tribology in a wildly entertaining and deeply informative graphic guide. Packed with real-world stories, practical insights, and humor, this book will change the way you think about friction forever. If you want longer equipment life, fewer breakdowns, and smarter maintenance—this is where it starts. A must-read for anyone serious about reliability.
JOEL D. LEVITT
Stories of PM
$18.95 single copy of paperback, quantity discounts available
What if keeping your machines running wasn’t just about tools, but about how you think? In Stories of Preventive Maintenance, Joel Levitt turns a complex topic into a gripping and hilarious graphic journey through the world of maintenance. Packed with practical insights, historical context, and unforgettable characters, this book brings PM to life in a way that’s fun, innovative, and dangerously effective. If you want fewer breakdowns, safer operations, and smarter teams—this is your essential guide. Don’t just fix problems—prevent them.
JOEL D. LEVITT
Quality is No Accident
$18.95 single copy of paperback, quantity discounts available
What if quality failures weren’t just about bad workers—but about broken systems? Quality Is Not an Accident pulls back the curtain on the hidden causes of poor maintenance outcomes: from flawed designs and missing tools to pressure, fatigue, and silence. With humor, heart, and hard-earned wisdom, Joel Levitt reveals the human and systemic barriers that quietly sabotage safety and performance. Through vivid stories and practical insights, this book will change the way you see mistakes—and inspire a better path forward. If quality matters, this is the wake-up call you need.
JOEL D. LEVITT
CMMS - Friend or Foe
$18.95 single copy of paperback, quantity discounts available
Is your CMMS a powerful ally—or just a pig you keep feeding? CMMS: Friend or Foe? is a bold, funny, and eye-opening journey into the real-world struggles, misconceptions, and victories behind maintenance management systems. Through storytelling, humor, and vivid illustrations, this book reveals why CMMS implementations often fail, how work orders can transform your operation, and what it truly takes to derive value from your data. Whether you’re a tech, planner, or plant manager, this book will challenge what you think you know—and make you want to do CMMS right. Don’t just survive your system. Master it.
JOEL D. LEVITT
Small Improvement Projects Playbook
$18.95 single copy of paperback, quantity discounts available
What if the biggest gains in maintenance don’t come from massive projects—but from small, smart changes that anyone can start today? The Small Improvement Project Manual for Practitioners is your hands-on guide to unlocking hidden value, reducing frustration, and building a culture of continuous improvement—one fix at a time. With humor, clarity, and decades of experience, Joel Levitt shows how frontline teams can drive real change without waiting for permission or big budgets. If you’re tired of the same problems returning, this book offers a practical, proven path to lasting results. Start small. Think smart. Win big.
JOEL D. LEVITT
Bundle of All Books
currently in the Elements of Maintenance Management Series
Substantial Discount and FREE shipping
Discount 8-book bundle (all of the books in the Elements of Great Maintenance Management series)
Each book in The Elements of Great Maintenance Management series contributes information about a specific topic that will improve the maintenance effort’s effectiveness. This series is designed to explain and demonstrate complex engineering concepts, advanced management strategies, and basic finance and accounting to the practitioners and supervisors of maintenance activity and groups supported by and support effective maintenance.
Our industry is suffering from a double whammy!
- The maintenance industry is facing a shortage of qualified workers.
- Our organizations require more reliable equipment to thrive in their competitive marketplaces.
Every field has hidden knowledge.
- There is knowledge in maintenance that is not taught in school or apprenticeships. It is the knowledge that is hard-won and passed from master to apprentice.
- This knowledge is not just facts. It encompasses attitudes, mental models, problem-solving approaches, and healthy skepticism. In addition, there is an attraction to practical solutions to problems.
FREE E-BOOK.
Lubrication The Key to Machine Immortality Special Limited Time Free Offer
Please send me a complimentary copy of the popular book Lubrication – The Key to Machine Immortality, available immediately. We want you to see how maintenance learning can be fun, entertaining, and effective.