One of the most prominent concerns highlighted in the report is the acute shortage of skilled labour in maintenance roles. Skills shortage tops maintenance challenges The recent released ‘Performance in Focus’ 2024 Maintenance Engineering Report by RS, in collaboration with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), offers significant insights into the evolving challenges faced by maintenance professionals across the UK and Ireland (read the full news story on page 6). Based on responses from nearly 400 maintenance professionals working in sectors such as manufacturing, energy, and intralogistics, the report sheds light on key industry issues ranging from talent shortages to the management of unscheduled downtime. One of the most prominent concerns highlighted in the report is the acute shortage of skilled labour in maintenance roles. This has become the top issue for the industry in 2024, with half of respondents identifying it as a Editor’s Comment ‘ ’ pressing concern. It is clear that the engineering sector must work harder to attract and develop talent, with apprenticeships and targeted skills training emerging as essential components of the solution. As Lydia Amarquaye from IMechE points out, a concerted effort is needed from both industry and educational institutions to raise the profile of engineering and highlight the importance of maintenance within the broader field. Technological evolution is another key theme explored in the report, particularly the growing reliance on data analysis to optimise maintenance strategies. However, many organisations still rely on outdated methods such as paper records (59%) and Excel spreadsheets (37%), indicating that many are lagging behind in adopting more advanced tools. While the use of computerised maintenance management systems (CMMS) has increased, with 62% of organisations now utilising such systems, the report shows that only 22% have adopted enterprise asset management systems, down from 39% in the previous year. This suggests a gap in the sector’s ability to fully integrate advanced digital solutions into everyday operations. Unscheduled downtime remains a persistent challenge, with maintenance teams averaging 15 hours a week managing breakdowns. Although this marks a reduction from the previous year, the financial impact remains substantial, with the average cost of downtime rising to £5471.95 per hour. Ageing assets and mechanical failures are the primary causes, underscoring the need for proactive asset management strategies. The report’s findings suggest that organisations are increasingly adopting preventative measures, such as upgrading equipment and enhancing training, to combat these issues. However, as Raj Patel, managing director of RS UK & Ireland, notes, there is still room for improvement in the maturity of maintenance practices across the industry. Leveraging supplier expertise and outsourcing specialist tasks may provide a valuable means of addressing both skills shortages and the demands of modern maintenance. October/November 2024 www.pwemag.co.uk Plant & Works Engineering | 03
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