THEME:  Integration of Machinery Failure Prevention Technologies into Systems Health Management

GENERAL INFORMATION
The 61st Annual Meeting of the Society for Machinery Failure Prevention Technology (MFPT) will be held April 17-19, 2007, at the Ramada Plaza Resort Oceanfront Hotel, Virginia Beach, Virginia, Tel (757) 428-7025.  The MFPT Society Sponsors include the Office of Naval Research (ONR), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL), the Naval Air Warfare Center (NAWC) and the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC).  In the planning of MFPT 61, the Program Committee will continue to promote the Society’s policy of cooperation with organizations that have related technical interests.  These organizations include professional societies such as SEM, STLE, ASM, IEEE and ASME; the Shock and Vibration Information Analysis Center (SAVIAC); and a number of Universities and Centers of Excellence.  The Technical Program Committee Chairman is Mr. Vernon S. Fox from BAE Systems.  Mr. Chris J. Pomfret, Executive Director of the Society, is the Conference Manager.

THEME
The 2007 Program THEME was chosen because of the importance of always ensuring that we consider our failure prevention technologies in the context of the systems within which they will be employed.  While it is vital to address the details of how a specific failure prevention science, technique, or method will benefit a machine or system, the tough part seems to be integrating several of the specific capabilities to work within the system as a whole.  For example, a new sensor may be able to measure a parameter that could not be measured reliably before, but how will the sensor and the information it provides be integrated into an existing health management system to benefit overall system performance?  Or a new analysis technique for existing data may be able to uncover or predict faults and issues that were not apparent before, but how will this in practice improve the maintenance strategy of the equipment as a whole?  These issues need to be addressed early in the development cycle and they will have an important influence on the development of the sensor or technique.  So, when addressing the details of failure prevention technologies, we should also consider the practical implementation into system it serves.

TECHNICAL SESSIONS
The technical sessions at MFPT 61 will be developed by the Technical Program Committee based upon the abstracts submitted.  In keeping with the theme, we would especially like submitters to address in their papers how their sciences and technologies will fit with higher level systems, be they the operating machinery or the overall health management system.  Technical Committee Chairs will organize the sessions, which will be part of four or five technical tracks.  Suggestions and questions should be submitted to MFPT Headquarters.  Paper topics for the conference include but are not limited to the following:

• Diagnostics & Signal Analysis

• Prognostics ( Machinery, Structures, Electronics)

• Selection & Application of Metrics

• Fault Detection & Failure Prediction

• Standards, Definitions & Terms of Reference

• Corrosion Detection & Prevention

• Tribology (Wear, Lubrication, Coatings Applications, etc.)

• Distributed System Architecture

• Structural Health Management

• Sensor Technologies and Applications

• Practical Case Histories

CONFERENCE AGENDA
The Agenda will comprise an Opening Plenary Session designed to highlight current and future cutting-edge technology needs that challenge our technical community, followed by parallel technical tracks over the next two and one half days.  Exhibits and a New Products and Services Session will be central features for the Meeting.  A Final Program Agenda will be distributed by early February 2007, including complete hotel and registration information.  This Call for Papers, an on-line Abstract Submittal form, and a Conference Registration Form are already on this web site.  A Preliminary Program will be on the web by mid-December 2006.

SUBMISSION OF ABSTRACTS
Ideally, submit your abstract on-line.  Click on MFPT 61 Abstract Submittal Form.  Otherwise, mail or fax your abstract to MFPT Headquarters.  The deadline is September 11, 2006.  Contact Chris Pomfret after that date to see if space is still available.  There may be a few paper slots yet to be filled.

Abstracts submitted by mail or fax should include a Cover Sheet containing – (1) A Complete Title - as you would wish it to appear in the Program; (2) Author(s) Name(s) - if there are multiple authors, underscore the name of the person who will present the paper; (3) Company or Organization (for each author) - including the complete mailing address, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail address; (4) Prior Publication - if the paper has been published or presented before, give the circumstances.

PUBLICATION OF PAPERS
Principal authors of accepted papers can find full instructions for paper preparation and submission under Author Guidelines on this web site.  The deadline for paper submission is 5 February 2007.  A CD of the entire Conference Proceedings, both written papers and presentations, will be issued after the conference.

Note: 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.

EXHIBITS
Technical exhibits are an integral and important part of the MFPT meeting 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.  Exhibit Layout and Exhibitor Registration forms are on this web site.  As long as time is available, exhibitors may schedule 10-minute presentations in the New Products and Services Session.  Complete the Registration Form for this session when you register for the exhibit.  In addition, e-mail MFPT Headquarters a paragraph describing your organization.  This description will be linked to your exhibit on the web site.  Exhibitors who reserve space by January 15 26, 2007 will be profiled in the MFPT 61 feature issue of SOUND & VIBRATION magazine. The Exhibitors’ Reception will be held on the evening of the first day of the conference and lunch will be served in the exhibit area on the first two days.  The fee for a 3’ x 6’ table-top exhibit is $800 and for an 8’ x 10’ booth $1200.  Contact Rick Wade for information or reservations.

If you have questions after July 1, 2006 please contact: