CERTIFICATION by EFNMS
Skills and knowledge are the key factors in European maintenance. The price tag per work hour done in Europe is higher than in the main competitor countries. High quality maintenance supports the fulfilment of the efficiency of European industrial production, climate criteria and the competitive requirements of the circular economy.
High quality maintenance is achieved with excellent skills and superior knowledge. A good education system is the cornerstone of all learning. An evaluation procedure is needed to obtain feedback for further development.
The maintenance committee CEN/TC 319 Maintenance is making standards for the European Committee for Standardization (CEN). A huge amount of work has been done over decades by writing a lot of standards trying to describe the maintenance landscape. The main maintenance standards specifying the content of maintenance are EN 17007 - Maintenance process and associated indicators, EN 13306 - Maintenance terminology and EN 15628 - Qualification of maintenance personnel. All maintenance related standards can be found by searching keyword "TC 319".
The European Federation of National Maintenance Societies (EFNMS) has renewed the maintenance certification process. Six EFNMS member countries have completed a three-year ERASMUS + project with a new certification concept. The new model will be a fully digitized process, a computerized exam with a new question database, the database now contains around 4000 questions covering certification areas from master to expert (Manager, Engineer, Supervisor) according to standard EN15628. The new questions are multiple choice questions, so automatic correction of the answers is possible, and thus the result of the exam is obtained immediately.
For persons working in the field of maintenance the certificate proves your expertise, and improves your position (salary, employment, market value). For companies certified personnel guarantees more committed and motivated people on the payroll, better work results and quality. Service providers have an argument for marketing, they have certified personnel ensuring excellent results.
If you are wondering, would I succeed, can I pass the exam? When you have the required education, professional qualification, and have gained work experience in the field. When you have also been following developments in the maintenance field, you know what the others can do, and you know the main features of the standards. Then you are ready to test your skills and knowledge by taking a certification exam organized by EFNMS.
Ilkka Palsola
Promaint - Finnish Maintenance Society
EFNMS Certification Committee Chairman
