Energy management and industrial automation company Schneider Electric is urging organisations to address what it calls the “Silent Saboteur” – the unseen, cumulative risks that can gradually undermine operational safety, efficiency, and resilience.
Findings from Schneider Electric’s latest Industry Insight Report, based on audits of more than 400 customer sites worldwide, reveal that many businesses are unknowingly exposed to operational vulnerabilities with potentially serious financial and reputational consequences.
Common risks identified in facility audits
The report highlights several recurring issues across industrial and commercial sites:
• Safety and compliance gaps — 98% of audited sites presented electrical safety risks and 93% had not carried out recent protection coordination studies, increasing the likelihood of safety incidents and non-compliance.
• Obsolete equipment — 79% of sites were operating outdated electrical systems, raising the risk of unplanned failures and costly downtime.
• Insufficient spare parts — 71% of facilities lacked essential components, leaving them vulnerable to prolonged outages during equipment breakdowns.
• Poor maintenance — Nearly one third of sites had damaged or poorly maintained capacitor banks, contributing to power quality and stability issues.
• Limited visibility — Many organisations still rely on manual processes and isolated data, restricting their ability to detect inefficiencies or prevent faults before they escalate.
Kas Mohammed, Vice President for Services, UK and Ireland at Schneider Electric, says, “Too often, organisations focus on headline investments while overlooking the operational fundamentals that keep their business running.
“The real risk lies in the hidden faults – those silent saboteurs – that quietly erode efficiency and resilience.
“The good news is that increased monitoring and digitalisation of assets can stop the saboteur lurking in the shadows, helping organisations take a proactive approach to operational management.”
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