The Society for Maintenance and Reliability Professionals (SMRP) is preparing to welcome attendees for its 29^th Annual Conference. Hear from SMRP Executive Director Erin Erickson about what’s in store for attendees at this year’s event.

Register here for the SMRP 29th Annual Conference.

Q: This year is a first for SMRP. You’re offering attendees the option to attend in-person or virtually. From the attendees’ perspective, how will the event be different?

A: In short, all attendees, regardless of how they join the event, will learn about the latest industry trends and solutions to help enhance their careers and improve their company’s bottom line. We’ve got a great line up of nearly 100 presenters from companies including Amazon, GE Digital, IBM, Owens Corning, UpKeep Technologies, and more. With our new hybrid model, attendees don’t have to miss anything. They can now choose one session to attend live, then access any sessions they miss afterward. Or, if they have schedule conflict, they can access the recordings for up to a year after the event.

Streaming sessions will have very little effect on the in-person experience. From the virtual perspective, anyone who attended last year’s event will recognize the platform. In the event schedule online, we’ve marked the sessions that will be live streamed for virtual attendees.

Q: It sounds like you have a lot of exciting education and networking opportunities at the SMRP 29^th Annual Conference, but what are you most excited about?

A:  I’m very excited to connect in-person with the maintenance and reliability community. It’s always great seeing familiar faces and networking with new attendees. Although this year will still be a bit different that “normal,” I’m thankful for the provisions we’ll have in place that allow us to meet safely in-person including masks and social distancing.

From a program perspective, I’m really looking forward to our closing session, which will focus on cutting edge technology with great potential to grow on a large scale, plus some insights about where technology is making the biggest impacts in the IIoT.

Q: Outside of the closing panel, what are some of the educational takeaways and real-world examples attendees can expect to hear about during this event?

A: This year, the SMRP Annual Conference offers a robust program spanning seven tracks including Business and Management, Manufacturing Process Reliability, Equipment Reliability, Organization and Leadership, Work Management and Thought Leadership & Innovation.

The unique combination of world-class education and collaboration with likeminded professionals ‎will help attendees advance their career trajectory and improve their company’s processes. With nearly 100 presenters from around the world ‎‎sharing ‎valuable insights, 50 education sessions ‎across six tracks and more than ‎‎25 engaging ‎workshops, ‎the SMRP 29th Annual Conference will be the event of the year for the maintenance and ‎reliability ‎profession. ‎

Q: With the conference only a few weeks away, what would you tell someone is on the fence about registering or has never attended the SMRP Annual Conference?

A: I understand. Your office budget is tight and there’s always work waiting to be tackled. It’s not always easy to attend a conference, but this year’s event will be a win-win for both you and your company. And with our new virtual option, it’s never been easier to experience the SMRP Annual Conference.

If traveling is a concern, attend virtually.

If you’re unavailable October 25-28, watch the recordings.

If the cost is a concern, we can help you convince your boss to help with the expense. We have a templated letter that you can download on the conference website.

Don’t miss out on the chance to gain the skills needed to advance your career or improve your company’s bottom line!