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Dr Diego Galar

Dr. Galar gave Maintworld magazine readers some insights on how he sees his new role at EFNMS, the European Federation of National Maintenance Societies.

What do you expect from your new position as EFNMS Secretary and Director of Industry Relations on the Board of Directors

The roles of Secretary and Director of Industry Relations typically start at the time of election and last for a term of three years. During this time, the Secretary assists in the management and administration of the organization, promoting its goals and objectives and working with the Board of Directors to develop and implement strategies for the organization's growth and success. As the Director of Industry Relations, my goal will be to foster collaboration between National Maintenance Societies
(NMSs) and enterprises at a European level. This will involve identifying opportunities for partnerships and cooperation, promoting the exchange of best practices and knowledge sharing, and facilitating communication and networking between industry players and maintenance professionals. By working together, we can create a stronger maintenance community in Europe and drive innovation and growth in industry.

What is your current view on the European maintenance sector?

The importance of maintenance engineering and management in Europe cannot be overstated. With fierce competition from regions like Asia and America, where labor costs are lower, European companies must prioritize efficient and effective maintenance practices to reduce downtime, optimize asset utilization, and boost productivity.
The adoption of advanced technologies is one of the key drivers of growth in the maintenance industry in Europe. Predictive maintenance tools, which rely on machine learning algorithms and AI, have become increasingly popular. By predicting when equipment is likely to fail, these technologies enable maintenance teams to take proactive measures to avoid costly breakdowns.
European countries have also made significant investments in education and training to build a skilled workforce capable of driving innovation and growth in the maintenance industry. This has led to the development of specialized programs that focus on specific aspects of maintenance engineering and management. Importantly as well, there has been a concerted effort to standardize and harmonize maintenance practices across European countries through the development of common standards and frameworks.
Finally, European countries are strongly promoting sustainability and environmental stewardship in the maintenance function. This has led to the adoption of green technologies, energy efficiency, circular economy principles, and more. Through these efforts, Europe is poised to retain its leadership in the maintenance engineering and management sector while also promoting a more sustainable future.

What are your goals and objectives for the term?

As the Secretary and Director of Industry Relations, along with the other Board of Directors members and NMSs, I hope to contribute to the global understanding of EFNMS across Europe by introducing new communication tools and technologies to achieve greater visibility. This is essential: members of the national associations must understand the importance of sharing best practices and harmonizing methods and procedures. By being aware of the principle of "when one person learns, everyone learns," we can significantly enhance our maintenance learning curve.

I also intend to initiate sectorial committees to harmonize common practices in various sectors, such as transportation, chemical, infrastructure, and others, on a European level. Finally, I am eager to promote partnerships overseas, for example, with South American maintenance societies, as these are very active and successful in certain sectors. I believe EFNMS can benefit from close engagement with similar organizations worldwide.

Last, but not least. A few words from the new secretary of EFNMS.

First of all, I would like to express my gratitude to the National Maintenance Societies of Sweden and Spain for nominating me and to the General Assembly of EFNMS for electing me. I understand the great responsibility that comes with this role, and I am determined to fulfill it to the best of my abilities. I have dedicated my entire career to maintenance, and I am honored to serve this community.
As my father used to say, maintenance professionals work behind the scenes to keep the world running. I believe in the importance of continuing to expand our maintenance knowledge and fostering collaboration among NMSs in Europe, rather than working in isolated silos. By sharing good practices and harmonizing methods and procedures, we can be both effective and resilient.

Text: Nina Garlo-melkas