Final Thought: Certification — Which One?

What Millennials really seem to want is steady career progress and related pay.

Dr. Klaus M. Blache, Univ. of Tennessee (UTK), Reliability & Maintainability Center

“What certification should I earn?” That’s a question frequently asked by reliability and maintenance personnel. That’s understandable: They have plenty of choices.

Consider the CMRP (Certified Maintenance & Reliability Professional) and CMRT (Certified Maintenance & Reliability Technician), both from SMRP (Society for Maintenance and Reliability Professionals, Atlanta). The CMRP, by the way, is the only exam accredited by ANSI (American National Standards Institute, Washington), which follows ISO standards for accreditation and standards. Other certifications include the CRL (Certified Reliability Leader) from Reliabilityweb, CRE (Certified Reliability Engineer) from the American Society of Quality, CAMA (Certified Asset Management Assessor), CFM (Certified Facility Manager) from IFMA (International Facility Management Association, Houston), and the RMIC (Reliability and Maintainability Implementation Certification) from the Univ. of Tennessee-Reliability and Maintainability Center, Knoxville. The RMIC, among other things, requires a candidate to demonstrate a targeted capability by implementing an actual work-related project that makes a measureable, positive improvement on key performance indicators. An undergraduate minor and graduate university degree RME program is also offered.

To quote an unknown author, “In theory, the difference between theory and practice is small. In practice, the difference between theory and practice is large.” I agree, especially when mapping a professional-development path.

Some use the terms certification and certificate interchangeably. Certification refers to confirming competency in knowledge/skill. A certificate is the non-diploma document issued after completing training. (Some consulting groups offer certificate/certification programs, i.e., Marshall Institute at North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh, and Life Cycle Engineering [LCE] at the Univ. of Kansas, Lawrence.)

My answer to those who ask what reliability certification they should earn involves other questions. After first responding that I won’t recommend an exam to take, I inquire about what they want to do with their new, or soon-to-be, acquired, knowledge, skills, and certification, and, their long-term goals. Ultimately, they answer their own question.

All of the previously referenced reliability-certification program exams vary based on differences in technical requirements, closed/open book formats, and content. I encourage interested individuals to do enough investigation to get the certification that best supports their current and future plans. While preparation for any of these exams will add to a person’s knowledge base, most of them also require candidates to have some level of experience. Keep in mind, though, that being able to do something on a test does not demonstrate that you can implement best practices in a dynamic work environment.

Reliability is such a broad field that it’s impossible to be an expert in all areas. Think of how and why the medical field is as specialized as it is. For example, medicine is divided into areas such as pathology (diagnostic- and technique-based), cardiothoracic surgery (therapeutic and surgery on one organ), and general practice (diagnostic, therapeutic, and multidisciplinary). The practices of reliability and maintainability (R&M) are similar. Instead of “curing” people, we keep machinery, equipment, facilities, and related processes running.

If someone says he or she is a reliability or maintenance engineer or technician, the question is, “What area of R&M?” It could be conducting vibration analysis, implementing a lubrication program, calculating reliability growth, or rolling out an entire Total Productive Maintenance process requiring significant cultural change.

While some companies have endorsed a specific certification, most haven’t limited employees to a single choice. Typically, organizations provide guidelines with steps for increasing knowledge and capabilities in R&M—with certification usually recommended about midway through the process for personnel who desire it. A smaller group of companies, however, has made certification a requirement.

The good news is that what you need is available and the implementation of R&M best practices is the cornerstone that will enable industrial competitive advantage. 

Based in Knoxville, Klaus M. Blache is director of the Reliability & Maintainability Center at the Univ. of Tennessee (UTK), and a research professor in the College of Engineering. Contact him directly at kblache@utk.edu.