STLE Member Highlight - September 2024

STLE is thrilled to shine a spotlight on our outstanding members with the new Member Highlights feature.

This new homepage feature will highlight one STLE member per month, to promote their work or research and discuss how STLE has helped in their career. The goal is to learn from other STLE members, form collaborations and expand networking opportunities.

Any STLE member can participate. If you are interested, please fill out the online form at https://stle.submittable.com/submit/279566/member-highlights.
 
Stephen Ezendiokwere,
Manager, Lubricant Sales and Field Engineering Services
11Plc (formerly Mobil Oil Nigeria, An ExxonMobil Subsidiary)

What is your role at your organization?
My role is to drive improvements in the sale of Mobil lubricants and greases. In doing so engage every marketing tool possible to market and promote the use of Mobil lubricants across industries in different sectors of Nigeria economy. The supporting key deliverables in successful execution of this mandate involves being accountable for the implementation of all technical support programs in line with our marketing strategies that aim at increasing sales and dominating lubricant market share. These include providing high level expert supports in Mobil lubricants application including the use of engineering service programs to direct and coordinate ‘on-site' analytical investigations and to reinforce territorial business objectives. It is also my responsibility to coach, to develop new hires to adequately prepare them well for the expectations of the job and be able to face challenges in their day to day business engagements while in the field. The drive being to explore new opportunities and to acquire potential new customers for the Mobil brand. Also from time to time, I steward field technical support results from designated field locations, analyze gaps to reinforce key areas of focus to our sales team. Likewise, I promote teamwork by giving opportunities for every member of the team to
demonstrate capacity that is backed up with good motivation and recognition.

What products or services does your organization provide?
11Plc provides all categories and segments of Mobil lubricants and greases to the Nigeria market, which include Passenger Vehicle Lubricants (PVL), Commercial Vehicle Lubricants (CVL), Industrial Lubricants (IL), Marine Lubricants (ML) and Aviation Lubricants (AVL). In addition, 11Plc dominates the market in the sale and marketing of white petroleum products (Fuels) and liquefied petroleum gas (cooking gas).

Our services generally cover lubricants care and lubrication reliability matters. These involve integration of engineering service programs in promoting lubricants application, the monitoring of operational conditions of both in-service lubricant and the equipment running on the lubricant to promote extended service life. The ultimate goals being to make informed maintenance decisions, reduce costs of operations/equipment maintenance, improve and sustain production to generally stimulate increase in profits realization (bottom-line).

In our drive and commitment to realize these goals, we are aggressively involved in day to day execution of the following services;
  • Plant Audit (General Plant Lubrication Audit)
  • Production of Plant Lubrication Chart
  • Lubrication Training (Basic and Advanced)
  • In-service Oil Analysis (Used Oil Analysis)
  • Lubricant Storage and Handling Studies
  • Contamination Control Study
  • Oil Drain Interval Study
  • Engine Inspection
  • Hydraulic Inspection
  • Startup and Lubricant Compatibility Study
  • Natural Gas Engine Analysis
  • Gas and Steam Turbine Analysis
  • Borescope Inspection
  • Thermographic Inspection

It may interest you to know that these services clearly distinguish us in the market place, making us the brand of first choice for any end-user of lubricants who is conscious of managing high costs of operations and interested in integrating the tenets of modern maintenance practices in equipment management. We use these engineering programs to stimulate, dominate and maintain longtime hold in accounts using our lubricants and to shield such customers away from competition. Nigeria is a very competitive market when it comes to lubricant sales and this is promoted by influx of other finished brands of lubricant from ME.

How long have you been a member of STLE?
Almost fourteen (14) years. I joined STLE about sometime in March 2011. 

I have remained active through regular renewals of my annual membership through timely payments of dues, participation in webinars and international conferences, and contributions on matters thrown up for such by STLE leadership. Including my membership of STLE Members Ambassadors. Also, looking for more opportunities to be useful to STLE through my membership of other committees, etc.

How has STLE helped you throughout your career?
The Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers (STLE) has contributed significantly at improving my interest and knowledge on matters of tribology and lubrication engineering, equipped me with the confidence to discuss and promote the subject of lubrication and sound lubrication practices as it pertains to equipment management at different fora. This is courtesy of the series of engagements and training attended during webinars and international conferences organized by the body.

Also, the society has continued to provide me a platform to network with other like minded professionals across the globe on these important issues of lubricants and lubrication. Therefore, it has contributed in reinforcing my confidence in making a career out of this field of specialization, which I have remained hooked to even after more than 30 years.

What is the greatest benefit you get from your STLE Membership?
The greatest benefit is the platform being provided to network with knowledgeable others in the field of tribology and lubrication engineering globally to acquire more knowledge, including access to reputable corporate organizations in the field.

What would you say to others looking to get involved with STLE?
I will not only urge them to get involve (belong), also will encourage them do so quickly by selling the benefits of membership, including going the extra miles to see them go through the processes of joining to successful end.

Connect with Stephen at steve.ezendiokwere@11plc.com.