May 2020

workforce – people who can take care of a wide range of problems that may arise in the day-to-day operation of manufacturing. Skilled workers will still be needed, but they will undertake different tasks and have different skill sets. In an interconnected, data-driven world, maintenance engineers are increasingly required to be software and hardware engineers, and even drone operators. In this fast-changing environment, on-the-job training and Continuing Professional Development is more vital than ever. Many educational establishments, trade associations and equipment suppliers offer highly developed training programmes, many CPD- certified. Many members of the Society of Operational Engineers (SOE) are registered as Incorporated or Chartered Engineers. Members can obtain credits from course modules or by attending approved conferences and seminars. The Fluke Industrial Maintenance programme aims to assist electromechanical technicians, and electricians become more effective at troubleshooting motors and motor drives. The company’s CPD-certified curriculum targets practising engineers, Maintenance Matters Focus on: Training to identify the root of a problem when it occurs. The Japanese Institute of Plant Maintenance (JIPM) has defined a seven-step improvement process with three phases for companies to follow. In-house or outsource? Many plant managers face a tough decision - should they outsource their maintenance activity or hire an in-house team? Despite having in-house staff available to deal with problems as soon as they occur offering a significant advantage on response time, Outsourced contract maintenance is becoming increasingly prevalent. Using an external maintenance partner with a specialist skill set, such as a robotics supplier, can also lower the time taken to repair, while having a contracted company avoids in- house staff wages and benefits. As those of us currently experiencing working from home for the first time during the pandemic will have found, some managers can struggle with the lack of control that outsourcing brings as they are unable to directly manage, set task priorities and instruct the workforce. apprentices, students and teachers. Teaching materials are prepared by company experts and professional field troubleshooters. Upon completion of the training the technician should be able to quickly isolate a fault and facilitate a repair. Autonomous maintenance Designed to improve proactive, predictive and preventative maintenance in the factory, autonomous maintenance is a strategy whereby the whole manufacturing team take collective responsibility. Equipment operators work with the maintenance team to ensure the performance and health of their equipment. to be able to perform autonomous maintenance effectively. Autonomous maintenance is a crucial pillar of TPM, developed in Japan to combine the concept of Total Quality Control. The idea was spawned by production teams who wanted to control and improve their overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) by reducing breakdowns, losses in speed and equipment deterioration. All operators must be trained to detect abnormalities, understand the equipment and be aware of the common causes of anomalies Category Partners: Media Partner: MANUFACTURING makeuk.org/awards