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.

08/04/2025 Routine examination Louise Davis speaks with an engineering inspection expert to explore how plants can incorporate inspection activities into their regular maintenance plans – and what site personnel can do to ensure inspections run smoothly » Read More

08/08/2024 Supply chain spotlight Following a major survey, Eriks has published its maintenance, repair and operational (MRO) supply chain report in association with the Institute of Engineering & Technology. The new document highlights several critical insights and areas ... » 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

12/10/2023 Optimising maintenance Preventative plant maintenance is proven to reduce down time and whole life costs. But can it be made more efficient? Richard Warley, CEO of BigChange, explains how job management platforms can help » Read More

14/11/2022 Shedding light on lighthouses Lighthouses use some of the most effective lights in the world but maintaining them can prove tricky. Ben Spencer finds out why » Read More

16/10/2022 How to commission a motor repair Karl Metcalfe, technical support at the Association of Electrical and Mechanical Trades, explains what to look for when commissioning a repair. » Read More

04/10/2022 Pallet truck care A guide to the care, inspection and maintenance of pallet trucks, as covered by PUWER » Read More

15/08/2022 Maintaining uninterruptable power supplies (UPS) Uninterruptible power supplies play a key role when mains power fails, making a carefully planned maintenance regime all the more crucial. By Brian Wall » Read More

18/07/2022 From the ground up: aerospace MRO The aerospace industry has developed one of the most mature models for maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO). We look at how the process works and what future changes are coming. » Read More

18/07/2022 Minimising the risk of temperature control equipment summer downtime While the UK wasn’t really renowned for heatwaves, nearly every year a number of days see spikes in temperature upwards of 30°C, putting additional strain on the temperature control equipment at manufacturing sites across. With these ... » Read More

22/06/2022 Reducing pump maintenance with liquid gaskets and adhesives For those operating in processing sectors such as paper, power generation, chemicals, sugar, mining and oil and gas, adopting a proactive maintenance strategy is key to eliminating common failures modes and extending the useful life of ... » Read More

09/03/2022 Prevention is better than cure: caring for compressors Well-planned maintenance of any equipment is essential for long-term reliability and efficiency. Following the routine servicing carefully detailed in the operator’s manual may seem obvious, but this is crucial to preventing potential ... » Read More

19/01/2022 Training: practical into virtual While many engineering courses are available online, how well, poorly or not at all do courses with practical content transfer to a virtual platform? By Steed Webzell » Read More

13/01/2022 Inadequate maintenance blamed for August 2020 Wales tanker train derailment and ... At about 23:04 hrs on 26 August 2020, train 6A11, the 21:52 hrs service from Robeston (Milford Haven) to Theale, conveying 25 laden tank wagons, derailed near Llangennech, in Carmarthenshire. The derailment and the consequent damage to the ... » Read More

30/09/2021 Overhead crane maintenance Electric overhead travelling cranes are a staple tool in many industrial facilities. A thorough inspection and maintenance regime is essential to keep them in prime condition. By Brian Wall » Read More

18/08/2021 Keeping your compressor in tip-top condition Portable diesel- and petrol-powered compressors play a critical role in providing the air that drives pneumatic tools. But why do they suddenly fail sometimes, bringing a project to a grinding halt – and what can be done to prevent this ... » Read More

12/08/2021 Inspection shutdowns in UK AGR nuclear power plants UK nuclear power plants including Heysham 1, Torness and Hinkley Point B have recently undergone shutdowns that have included inspections for cracks in their graphite core. Such work has gained a new sense of urgency in the past few years, ... » Read More

10/12/2020 Step change at Blackpool Tower Blackpool Tower’s 126-year-old external staircase is to be removed as part of a wider renovation project. A decision on how the staircase will be replaced is being evaluated. By Brian Wall » Read More

22/10/2020 Should military aircraft technicians be licenced to a common European standard? Defence cuts are nothing new. The UK’s armed forces’ role changes as frequently as the Guard. But now the UK government has announced it doesn’t want its military aircraft technicians licenced to a common European standard. What are its ... » Read More

02/09/2020 Winded: new approaches to offshore wind turbine maintenance Not only are offshore wind turbines a long way from shore, their rotating machinery is housed tens of metres above the surface of the water. The financial incentive to minimise the need to perform inspections and carry out maintenance has ... » Read More

17/08/2020 Suit up The International Space Station is a modular space station in the low Earth orbit and just like industrial, commercial and domestic facilities across our planet, it typically needs to be maintained, repaired and upgraded by its residents. ... » 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

06/04/2020 Sight sensing Motion amplification is a powerful technique for visualising vibration and other motion in mechanical systems, which can lead to rapid diagnosis of potential problems » Read More

08/01/2020 A CM approach Abayomi Obisesan, asset reliability engineer at Optimal Asset Maintenance Solutions, discusses the relevance of condition monitoring to equipment maintenance strategy development » Read More

07/10/2019 Maintec 2019 – it’s show time When? 30-31 October 2019 | Where? National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Birmingham, UK, B40 1NT » Read More