Training Skills 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.

08/04/2025 Embrace equality, diversity and inclusion Zurich Engineering’s organisation culture has benefitted from completing the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Inclusive Leadership Programme. Senior engineer Daniel Meekin explains more » Read More

08/01/2024 When a professional gets it wrong Professionals provide vital guidance to us and enable us to make decisions with confidence on many important matters. But what if that advice or guidance turns out to be wrong? What is the extent of a professional’s duty to us, and are we ... » Read More

31/08/2023 Climbing the ladder I believe that education is life-long. I am professionally registered to IEng. But I am now considering starting a master’s degree. Now that I work in site engineering team leadership, I am considering extending my competence. » Read More

10/08/2020 No more clouds over cyber security Leading experts in cyber security have produced an authoritative guide that could help factories and process plants better protect their resources. Steed Webzell spoke to the guide’s project lead to find out more » Read More

13/04/2020 Pop culture AG Barr’s factory in Milton Keynes, UK, has worked with consultancy firm MCP to provide shopfloor staff with basic maintenance skills. Enter the ECO warriors » Read More

04/03/2020 The stage is set Plant & Asset Management returns to Birmingham’s NEC from 21-23 April 2020, alongside co-located events Drives & Controls, Smart Industry Expo, Fluid Power & Systems and Air-Tech, as well as MACH (20-24 April) » Read More

05/02/2020 Staying focused There are a wide range of infrared training courses on the market, from general introductions to specialist and sector-specific instruction » Read More

08/01/2020 Forging closer bonds The British Pump Manufacturers’ Association and Lancaster University are working together to support pump manufacturers in solving their technical challenges. The tie-up also aims to raise the standard for pump engineers » Read More

01/11/2019 Comment: Diversity is key The cover story this month comes from an interview with new SOE Patron Sir John Parker – a man that has held many roles for nearly 60 years. » Read More

07/10/2019 Military to civil The 2018 Engineering UK report stated a shortfall of between 83,000 and 110,000 engineers across all engineering disciplines in the UK. Are technically trained service leavers part of the solution? » Read More

04/07/2019 Heads together The University of Chester has launched a Science Industry Process/Plant Engineer Degree Apprenticeship after working with the Institution of Chemical Engineers and employers in the North West » Read More

03/06/2019 Avoiding robo-flop Make UK launched a course last year to retrain and up-skill employees, covering the knowledge and practical skills involved with robotic and automation engineering. Commercial manager Mark Farrant, and commercial maintenance tutor Gordon ... » Read More

08/05/2019 Correct lubrication = longevity Industrial equipment can fail because of inadequate lubrication maintenance and incorrect lubrication. Getting it right, first time, every time, is therefore vital » Read More

04/01/2019 A defining moment A working group behind a ‘plant mechanic’ trailblazer apprenticeship submission seeks approval from the Institute for Apprenticeships » Read More

05/12/2018 Comment: Game on Video games promote violence and fuel obesity among our young people. That is the message we often hear, but now new research from the University of Surrey claims girls who play video games are more likely to choose physical science, ... » Read More

02/11/2018 Past, present and future Verity Davidge, head of education and skills policy at manufacturers’ organisation EEF, speaks about the current skills situation in maintenance-related occupations, and what the future may hold » Read More

28/02/2018 Training to be the best Plant Engineer looks at what an employer can aim to achieve and how this can help other companies » Read More

28/02/2018 Transforming the engineering talent pipeline To get closer to the challenges and potential talent management solutions faced by clients, business management consultants Kiddy & Partners developed a white paper on ‘Transforming Engineering Talent Pipelines’. We caught up with Dr Zara ... » Read More

28/10/2017 Protecting the protective equipment Everyone knows the importance of wearing the correct PPE at all times. However, Chris Beck discovers there is a worrying knowledge gap when it comes to caring for this vital equipment » Read More

07/05/2014 Climate change: on the horns of a dilemma Seldom does a single study on a solitary branch of science elicit global comment, transcending culture, politics, language, industry – indeed, society in general. » Read More

08/06/2012 Hard headed young engineers It's an ill wind that blows nobody any good, they used to say. And so it is with interest that we observe a significant rise in the numbers of engineering, technology, science and maths students taking up 'The Year in Industry' scheme, ... » Read More

06/02/2012 It’s all about engineering As Chancellor George Osborne ramps up the rhetoric on manufacturing, with his 'march of the makers' theme, while Prime Minister David Cameron and much of the coalition cabinet dance to a similar 'rebalancing the economy' tune, British ... » Read More

08/08/2011 Step up to the skills challenge With UK manufacturers continuing to report the welcome news of increasingly healthy order books and predicting further growth in production output for the months to come (according to latest figures from the CBI, the self-styled voice of ... » Read More

09/02/2011 Training for tomorrow When times get tough, tough cuts follow, with training and continuing professional development suffering, too. But will that wreak long-term irreparable damage? Brian Wall reports » Read More