Maintenance, Repair and Operations Feature Library

Operations Engineer's library catalogues editorial features going back five years.

Access to all archive material is free to all, including non-members of IPlantE (the Institution of Operations Engineers) or BES (Bureau of Engineer Surveyors), under the umbrella of SOE (Society of Operations Engineers). However, to discover the many benefits of becoming an SOE member, please click here.

08/01/2024 Fighting rogue suppliers As non-compliant and dangerous products flood into the UK, when the government doesn’t act, industry can, reports Brian Wall » Read More

08/01/2024 Comment: Mutual recognition Recently there have been some announcements by the Engineering Council covering the introduction of bilateral engineering competency initiatives, the most recent being with the Netherlands. » Read More

08/01/2024 Proving driver competency On the back of continuing incidents involving on- and off-road plant vehicles, new driver training is being brought in to prove drivers can do the job, reports Tom Austin-Morgan » Read More

08/01/2024 Rehabilitating construction products Industry has responded to Dame Judith Hackitt’s independent review of Building Regulations and Fire Safety in the wake of the Grenfell Tower disaster, which called for radical change in construction products, particularly in the areas of ... » Read More

08/01/2024 Safety first in construction Health and safety standards have become a major focus for many organisations across the construction industry when it comes to procurement. Brian Wall explores how they work in practice » Read More

08/01/2024 The importance of regular pump system maintenance Regular pump system maintenance is essential to prevent significant cost and reputational issues » Read More

08/01/2024 Trustworthy and responsible AI Customers are investing significant amounts in AI and AI readiness, but often struggle to demonstrate trustworthiness of the emerging solutions to key stakeholders. This is the trust gap that DNV seeks to close with the launch of new ... » Read More

05/12/2023 Wind turbine lift safety An HSE alert has raised concerns about the safety of the design of maintenance lifts inside wind turbines. Now, publication of a relevant new design standard has been delayed, reports Toby Clark » Read More

05/12/2023 Measuring low liquid volumes via Coriolis sensors To optimise measurement and control accuracy for low liquid volumes, Coriolis sensors are often the prime technology choice. Providing a true mass flow reading, these devices are also highly repeatable. Coriolis technology is suited to ... » Read More

05/12/2023 Improving maintenance for Navy aircraft A new initiative that is transforming the speed and efficiency of maintenance and turnaround times on operational aircraft within the Royal Navy is being described as a ‘game changer’, reports Brian Wall » Read More

05/12/2023 AI metrics for lifts A set of standardised metrics would be helpful for consultants and building management when considering an investment in AI, and for evaluating the efficacy of an installed AI system. However, some of the concepts common in lift industry ... » Read More

05/12/2023 Comment: Making changes safely When you are offshore and things go wrong, sometimes you have to make do with what is available; you can’t pop down the road to the supplier for a quick replacement. » Read More

05/12/2023 Digital developments TK Elevator offers views about how digital elevators (lifts) transform buildings in a new report available via www.is.gd/ataduy » Read More

05/12/2023 All about bolts New technology and techniques can directly monitor the stresses and strains experienced by bolts, with the purpose of checking they remain tightly connected, as well as monitoring the health of the surrounding machine, reports Will ... » Read More

05/12/2023 Could consumers be paid to use power? Wholesale power prices were negative for significant periods in the spring. Does that mean consumers can be paid to use power? That may be the case: some current electricity contract products already give hints about the direction of travel » Read More

05/12/2023 DSEI 2023 Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) has seen an increase in attendance at its 2023 edition and the appeal of this trade show extends way beyond the defence sector. » Read More

05/12/2023 Maintaining safety at height Working at height isn’t necessarily unsafe. But, like anything, there are right ways and wrong ways of going about it. Tom Austin-Morgan reports on how to work safely at height » Read More

02/11/2023 Making maintenance safer According to the European Union Aviation Safety Agency, 6% of helicopter accidents between 2007 and 2015 were caused by error in maintenance operations (excluding military helicopters). As a result, Airbus Helicopters has carried out an ... » Read More

02/11/2023 Removing rust Laser cleaning systems are becoming more affordable and available for all sorts of rust removal and general part cleaning applications. Tom Austin-Morgan finds out more » Read More

02/11/2023 Using experts in technical disputes Expert determination is an effective and swift way to resolve disputes, particularly those of a technical nature, making it an attractively commercial option for many engineering-related disputes » Read More

02/11/2023 Hybrid bearing benefits Not all industrial bearings use steel as their exclusive construction material. Hybrid bearings, comprising both steel and ceramic (or ceramic-coated) components, provide additional benefits » Read More

02/11/2023 Comment: ‘I am independent’ How independent must inspectors be? LOLER ACOP Reg 9, paragraph 295, states: “it is essential that the competent person is sufficiently independent and impartial to allow objective decisions to be made.” Does that mean they cannot be an ... » Read More

02/11/2023 Applying blockchain to nuclear sector The nuclear sector has more responsibility than most to manage worker/contractor competence effectively. Can blockchain help optimise this challenging task? » Read More

02/11/2023 Stress cracks in nuclear pipework The shutdown of reactors across France last year came as a shock to many, and provides a warning of the effects of stress corrosion cracking, writes Jody Muelaner » Read More

02/11/2023 BNG development Seven years since the UK’s leading conservationists declared it ‘one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world,’ we are finally about to see concerted action, reports Dominic Bernard » Read More