The workforce cliff is not only a staffing problem. It is a knowledge-transfer problem. When asset context, workarounds, repeat failures, and local operating history live in memory, retirements can quietly remove the information newer staff need most.
What the paper covers
What walks out the door
The undocumented asset history, exceptions, operating context, and practical field judgment that are hard to recover later.
System-supplied context
How connected assets, work orders, inspections, photos, notes, and compliance evidence help newer teams find the story.
Leverage, not more headcount
Why lean utilities need tools that make existing people more effective instead of adding operational overhead.
Why it matters
Utilities need continuity when experienced people leave, crews change roles, or new operators inherit complex systems. A connected operating record gives the next person a place to find asset history, previous decisions, open risks, and the evidence behind the plan.
The paper frames EAM as practical workforce resilience: fewer tribal-knowledge dependencies, clearer handoffs, and better decisions by the people already running the utility.
Best fit
- Utilities facing retirements, turnover, or thin staffing across operations and field work.
- Teams trying to capture asset knowledge before it leaves with experienced operators.
- Leaders who need better continuity without adding more administrative burden.