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News Release from: Institution of Diagnostic Engineers
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 15 January 2002
Body recognises rise in preventative
maintenance
The Institution of Diagnostic Engineering was formed in 1982 and now, as a professional and education registered charity, has a membership of some 30,000 in over 50 countries
More and more companies are paying attention to preventative maintenance as a means of cutting costs The problem being experienced is not only finding engineers with the skills in maintenance engineering but having the confidence when they believe that they found suitable engineers that they are able to apply those supposed skills
This article was originally published on Engineeringtalk on 28 Sep 2004 at 8.00am (UK)
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Preventative maintenance is a double edged sword.
It requires a detailed study of plant and equipment and the identification of what and when is likely to fail and in what time scale.
Errors on both sides can be costly.
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If parts are discarded to early in their operating life, useful service is wasted.
On the other hand if the part or component is allowed to fail it can have greater implications than just down time.
Any motorist will either heed the advice to have a regular timing belt change on their car or face the consequences of major engine damage.
The whole key to preventative maintenance is the application of diagnostic engineering, again something that has been finessed by the car manufacturers.
The problem is that diagnostic engineering is not a subject that always lends itself to academic study.
Having said that, condition monitoring and vibration analysis are subjects that are associated with diagnostic engineering and are subjects which are included in the syllabus for certain qualifications.
It was because of the unique requirements of diagnostic engineering that a Dr Ralph Collacott, a former lecturer in these subjects at the, now, De Montford University in Leicester, was persuaded to form an Institution that would give recognition to those having these skills.
The Institution of Diagnostic Engineering was therefore formed in 1982 and now, as a professional and education registered charity, has a membership of some 3,000 in over 50 countries.
Members are only accepted and allowed to use the recognition as a Member (MIDiag.E) or Fellow (FIDiag.E) after extensive examination of their past experience in the field of diagnostic engineering.
Formal qualification, which although indicate knowledge, do not indicate that they are competent in carrying out specific diagnostic projects of work.
Therefore these are not a major criteria in granting membership.
Companies, are looking more and more at engineers with this recognition, ensuring that they are obtaining the right level of skills.
The Institution maintains it promise of education in the field of diagnostic engineering by producing and issuing bi monthly, as part of their membership, a Journal containing case studies from members.
It also has a range of distance leaning course to provide the opportunity for Continuous Professional Development evidence..
(This was Engineeringtalk's Top Story on 14 January 2002).
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