João Ricardo Lafraia

Brazil

Since the beginning of my career, my goal has been to transform companies, mainly through assets management and operational excellence.

At first, I used to think that technical skills were enough to help these companies in their transformation. But over the years, more experienced, I have understood the importance of being thoroughly involved in managing a business, so that systems could have a more corporative dimension.

It was when I decided to change from a technical to a managerial career, assuming several management positions.

I have already worked as general manager (GM) in five major refineries in Brazil and also in the Exploratio and Production Santos Pre-salt Basin BU. In all of them I had the chance of implementing their reliability, safety and integrity management system. Always focusing on their operational efficiency, business performance and good results.

Among my experiences, I worked in the corporative GM function for implementing the Petrobras Refining's operational excellence in more than 14 units that have applied this management system, bringing amazing results.

I was also the tenth president of the Brazilian Maintenance Association, changing it in an Asset Management and Maintenance Brazilian Association (ABRAMAN).

I can say that I have helped to bring assets management to Brazil. By 2013, we created an ABNT special assets management committee, responsible for adapting to Portuguese the ISO 5500x suit, which are the reference standards regarding this subject.

I have also assisted the implementation of the Certified Asset Management Professional (CAMA) certification that has been occurring since 2014 in English, Portuguese and Japanese, with more than one thousand professionals around the world applying for the exam.

Recently I’ve been involved in developing a “Brazilian Asset Management Award” called MeGA (Best in Asset Management) with the support of ABRAMAN and FNQ (National Foundation for Quality).

Nowadays, I am the Chairman of the ABRAMAN’s Deliberative Council.