Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1080534
38 | January - February 2019 | www . machinerylubrication.com ICML Launches New Education Badge Program While ICML's current certifications cover the fields of oil anal- ysis and lubrication technology, the organization will soon offer specialty certi- fications within these broad fields as part of the new Lubrication Education Badge Program (LEBP). Paul Hiller | ICML TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION Since 2001, the Inter- nat iona l C ou nci l for Machiner y Lubrication (ICML) has served as the authoritative certification body for front-line lubrication and oil analysis practitioners. Its exams are derived from bodies of knowl- edge curated and vetted by teams of volunteer subject-matter experts all over the world. While ICML's current certifications cover the fields of oil analysis and lubrication tech- nology, the organization will soon offer specialty certifications within these broad fields as part of the new Lubrication Education Badge Program (LEBP). Why a Badge Program? ICML's experience has shown that personnel who have earned Machine Lubricant Analyst (MLA) and Machine Lubrication Technician (MLT) certifications can save time and money through implementation of best practices. Such newfound efficiency opens opportunities for these practitioners to dedicate their attention toward specific problem areas, thus increasing their value to employers and clients. e ICML board of directors surmised that specialized certif ication badges could help practitioners address such problem areas effectively. "The program is founded on a series of short-duration training sessions that provide focused learning on fewer topics than our larger certif ication programs," explains Alec Meinke, who serves on ICML's board of directors and coordinates the badge program. "Not only will the badge program improve machinery reliability and life-cycle costs through the collaborative appli- cation of best practices, but we will also incorporate benefits-awareness training for industrial stakeholders and financial decision-makers." Some plants may find it practical to hire or engage badge specialists rather than lubrication generalists. Instead of focusing on hierarchical certification levels, the LEBP can provide end users with flexibility to match training and certification to their plant's specific needs. A badge will function like a tradi- tional certification. It will involve similar requirements, utilize its own body of knowledge for training purposes and feature a three-year lifespan, although the badge exam likely will be shorter than a stan- dard exam. Badges will be offered as standalone certifications rather than supplements, regardless of whether a candidate has previously earned any other ICML certifications. Why Varnish? Due for rollout in late 2019, the badge program's initial offering will be the Varnish and Deposit Prevention and Removal (VDPR) certification badge. With this badge, practitioners can validate their qual- ifications to perform tasks related to lubricant degradation, lube-derived deposits, contaminant interactions, proactive mitigation technologies and more. e ICML board selected L u b r i c a t i o n P r o g ra m s Even one of the world's most modern and efficient gas tur- bines, a Siemens SGT 800, expe- riences varnish, despite having separate lube and hydraulic oil reservoirs. Photo courtesy of Muhammad Uddin.