From Nuclear Submarines to Napa Valley: My Conversation with Joshua Kroll
On Maintenance & Manufacturing Insights, Joshua Kroll — Facilities Maintenance Supervisor at Trinchero Family Estates and a former Marine Corps and Navy nuclear submarine officer — shares how he prepares a winery for harvest season, grows technicians internally, troubleshoots by challenging assumptions, and puts AI to practical use in maintenance.
Every maintenance leader has a story, but few are as unique as Joshua Kroll's. In the latest episode of Maintenance & Manufacturing Insights, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Joshua Kroll, Facilities Maintenance Supervisor at Trinchero Family Estates in Napa, California. His journey from serving in the U.S. Marine Corps and later as a Navy nuclear submarine officer to leading maintenance operations in one of the country's largest wineries offers valuable lessons for maintenance professionals in every industry.
Preparing for Harvest — the Industry's Super Bowl
During our conversation, Joshua explained why preventive maintenance is so critical during harvest season — the wine industry's equivalent of the Super Bowl. With thousands of assets supporting production, preparation and planning are essential to minimizing downtime and keeping operations running smoothly when it matters most.
Growing Technicians from Within
One of the topics I found especially valuable was Joshua's approach to developing maintenance technicians. Rather than relying solely on hiring experienced specialists, his team focuses on growing talent internally through structured training, skill matrices, and continuous learning. It's a strategy that creates a more versatile and capable maintenance organization.
Troubleshooting by Challenging Assumptions
Joshua also shared an excellent troubleshooting story that highlighted the importance of challenging assumptions. Instead of immediately blaming sensors or mechanical failures, his team learned to step back, question their initial conclusions, and ultimately discover the true root cause of the problem. It's a simple lesson that can save maintenance teams valuable time and reduce unnecessary downtime.
Putting AI to Work in Maintenance
We also spent time discussing artificial intelligence and how it is beginning to reshape maintenance organizations. Joshua shared practical examples of using AI to organize documentation, analyze maintenance data, develop training programs, monitor regulatory updates, and automate repetitive administrative tasks. Rather than replacing skilled technicians, AI is becoming another tool that helps maintenance professionals make better decisions and work more efficiently.
Final Thoughts
If you're interested in maintenance leadership, reliability, continuous improvement, or practical applications of AI in manufacturing, I think you'll find a lot of value in Joshua's insights. His career is a great reminder that strong leadership and a commitment to developing people translate across every industry.
If you'd like to connect with Joshua Kroll, you can find him on LinkedIn.
Watch & Listen
If you haven't listened yet, I encourage you to check out my conversation with Joshua Kroll:
