THEME - Failure Prevention: Implementation, Success Stories and Lessons Learned

Introduction

‘MFPT 2009’, the 2009 Conference of the Society for Machinery Failure Prevention Technology (MFPT) will be held April 28-30, 2009, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Dayton, OH.   Please note the new location for 2009!  Dayton is a city with an outstanding heritage in science and engineering, and is the birthplace of aviation, being the home of the inventors of flight, Orville and Wilbur Wright.

MFPT is now looking for abstracts for its 2009 Conference; details are given below.  As always, we encourage the creation of written papers and we shall publish all those we accept, and that we receive by the deadline, in a hard bound set of proceedings, which will be available at the conference.  After the Conference we shall also publish all the papers in electronic format on a CD (which will also include all the presentation material, tutorials and keynote speeches from the Conference).  While a PowerPoint presentation is a perfectly acceptable format for the Conference and CD, we do encourage potential presenters to write a paper and receive the appropriate publication and professional recognition.

Theme

The 2009 Program THEME was chosen to focus on the ultimate goal of all our work, namely that failure prevention ideas, research, techniques and systems are all pursued to operate reliably and durably in real situations and thus deliver their promised benefits.  Furthermore, for failure prevention to increase its traction with OEMs and operators, it must demonstrate its effectiveness and value.   While MFPT is always interested in new ideas and research, the 2009 Conference will provide the opportunity to showcase papers giving examples of where advanced failure prevention techniques have been used successfully in practice.  Areas of interest may include examples of where failure prevention successes have contributed towards the effective implementation of reliability engineering, intelligent maintenance, autonomic logistics, reliability-centered maintenance, condition-based maintenance and performance-based logistics.

Conference Program

The Conference Program will comprise an Opening Plenary Session designed to highlight the current and future cutting-edge technology needs that challenge our technical community.  Three or four parallel technical tracks will then follow for the next two and a half days.  A preliminary Conference program will be posted on the MFPT website in December 2008, where we will also post hotel and registration information, and will be periodically updated to include the latest details.  This Call for Papers can be found on the MFPT web site now.

Abstract Submission for Technical Sessions and Tutorials

Timeline:

Abstract Deadline: 8 September 2008

Deadline for Submission of Full Papers: 26 January 2009

MFPT Headquarters is now accepting proposed paper titles with accompanying abstracts in the subject areas listed below:

• Data/Knowledge Management
• Electronics and Power Systems Health Management
• Failure Analysis: Engineering Solutions for Failure Prevention
• Failure Analysis: Tribology
• Failure Prevention for Materials and Structures
• Gear and Bearing PHM
• Health Management Strategies
• Health Management Tools and Capabilities
• Human Factors
• PHM
• RE, IM, AL, RCM, CBM and PBL Successes

• Signal Analysis
• Sensors
• Systems Engineering

Additionally, the Conference accommodates several half-day (3 hour) tutorials in failure-prevention-related subjects.  Please submit an abstract (500 words max) for your proposed paper or tutorial on the MFPT website by September 8, 2008 using the MFPT 2009 Abstract Submission Form.  If the paper has been published or presented before, please give the circumstances.

On the abstract submission form, authors are asked to allocate their abstracts provisionally to one of the listed subject areas.  Authors are also encouraged to submit failure-prevention–related abstracts that do not fit into any of these areas.

Preparation and Publication of Papers

The instructions for paper preparation are under Author Guidelines on the MFPT website.  Authors must submit their final papers by 26 January 2009 to meet the hard-bound Proceedings publication deadline.  The hard-bound Proceedings will be available at the Conference.  In addition, a CD of the entire Conference Proceedings, containing all the written papers and ‘PowerPoint’ presentation charts, will be issued after the Conference.  For all contributed papers published in the proceedings, a speaker will be required to attend the Conference, present the paper and pay the required registration fee.  Publication of the paper is contingent upon the payment of the fee. 

Awards

Jack Frarey Award for Excellence in the Field of Machinery Failure Prevention Technology.  The late Jack Frarey excelled in many aspects in the field of Machinery Failure Prevention Technology, his contributions making a significant impact and inspiring his colleagues.  The Jack Frarey award recognizes annually the outstanding contributions to this field by the individual or organization that best emulates the spirit and personal dedication that Jack brought to this endeavor.  At MFPT 2009, the second recipient of this award will be announced.

Henry and Sallie Pusey “Best Paper” Award.  First introduced at MFPT 61 in April 2007, this award reflects the many years of hard work, dedication, and professionalism shown by Henry and Sallie Pusey that established the high standards of excellence that MFPT enjoys today.  The award thus exemplifies the highest levels of excellence in technical contribution, clarity, and professionalism from all the written papers submitted for the MFPT annual Conference.  The next recipient will be announced at MFPT 2009.

Exhibits and Sponsors

Technical exhibits form an integral and important part of the MFPT Conference and ample time will be scheduled for participants to visit the exhibits.  The number of exhibits is limited and will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.  Exhibitors may reserve a 3’ x 6’ table-top exhibit for $900, or an 8’ x 10’ booth for $1300 – see the Exhibitor Layout plan on the MFPT website.  Once registered as an exhibitor, your company logo will be displayed on the MFPT website, along with a brief company description and contact details.  Furthermore, an Exhibitors’ Reception will be held on the evening of the first day of the Conference.  Breakfasts, lunches and breaks will also be served in the exhibit area each day.  Finally, as introduced at MFPT 62, a prize draw will be organized to encourage delegates to visit every exhibitor’s booth.  To register as an exhibitor, please complete the Exhibitor Registration form on the MFPT website.  Each exhibitor registration will include one free admission to the Conference.

As initiated in 2008, and as an alternative to exhibiting, companies and organizations are welcome to sponsor a break or meal during the Conference:

• Morning and afternoon breaks: $500
• Breakfast: $750
• Luncheon: $1,000

Companies interested in doing so are encouraged to contact MFPT Headquarters directly to discuss logistics and sponsor benefits.

If you have questions on any of the above information, please contact: