There has been an interesting discussion on an internet site about the correct positioning of a reliability engineer in the company’s organization. While not being critical of the opinions posted on the site, the real question has to start with understanding the responsibilities of the reliability engineer.
In my blogs last year, I discussed the roles of the reliability, project, and maintenance engineers. We need to consider the role each of these highly qualified and necessary individuals in the life cycle of any corporate assets. If the life cycle of assets encompasses the following phases:
- Specify/ Design
- Procure/ Build/ Install
- Operate/ Maintain
- Decommission/ Dispose
Then, on what phases do the various engineers’ roles focus?
- Would not the reliability engineer focus on the specify/ design of the equipment?
- Would not the project engineer focus on the Procure/ Build/ Install phase?
- Would not the maintenance engineer focus on the operate/ maintain phase?
Why do we keep blurring the lines in these areas of responsibilities? This will be the topic of next week’s blog.
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