Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1222953
46 | March - April 2020 | www . machinerylubrication.com TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION START YOUR FREE SUBSCRIPTION www.machinerylubrication.com Nathan omas, maintenance reli- ability engineer at Oxy USA, concurred, as he offered his take on the long-term career application of the MLE. "e average industrial plant engi- neer's aim is to maximize the return on assets by optimizing each step in the life cycle from cradle to grave," omas added. "But other lubrication certifica- tions available today have tended to focus on the knowledge and skills of techni- cians, analysts and lubricant specialists. e MLE is the industry's only lubrica- tion certification created specifically for testing the knowledge and experience of plant engineers as it relates to the manage- ment of assets." Independent trainers also have good reason to be interested in earning the MLE certification. It makes sense for them to familiarize themselves with the exam experience as they consider developing optional preparation courses for future candidates. In fact, ICML requires any trainer conducting an MLE preparatory class to first hold an MLE certification. How to Prepare for the Exam Preparation for the MLE exam has run the gamut from months of reading to nothing at all. With no formal training classes being offered for most of 2019, last year's candidates were forced to prepare through any combination of self-study, work experience and bravado. For assis- tance, ICML provided the MLE body of knowledge online and cross-referenced each section with resource materials and links in the domain of knowledge (DoK). Of course, every candidate is unique, so there's no single best way to prepare. Individuals who spent little to no time studying for the exam tended to be those with years working in the field as trainers or reliability engineers and holders of multiple certifications. eir success underscores the general perception among respondents that work experience offers an advantage over a strictly academic background. ICML actually requires MLE candidates to have at least five years of post-secondary education or on-the-job training. "In a sense, I am constantly preparing by performing my job duties," noted Delgado about the value of expe- rience as it relates to exam preparation. Other experienced practitioners decided to use the MLE body of knowledge as a refresher. Rüdiger Krethe, OilDoc's managing director, and Brad Owen, a fluid and lubrication specialist for Cameco, were two such candidates. "I checked the BoK to see where I should have improve- ment, prepared and went to the exam," Krethe said. Owen's experience was similar: "I reviewed the areas of examination on the ICML website, and the areas where I thought I could use improvement I searched out addi- tional resources on the internet," he explained. In addition to tapping both the body of knowledge and domain of knowledge, some candidates also reviewed their own supplemental notes and papers from previous training classes and conferences. Like Krethe and Owen, they tended to focus on their weaker areas. Others purchased and read the new ICML 55.1 standard, which was developed in concert with the MLE BoK. As for the intensity and duration of the preparation, this will depend on each individual candidate. Achebe read a number of technical articles. Majka reported it took him a week to prepare, while Sandoval studied by himself for two months. Sampath developed a strict regimen. "ree to four months of daily self-studying for three to four hours and reading lots of articles from Machinery- Lubrication.com, my training notes from Noria, and the Maintenance and Reliability Best Practices book by Ramesh Gulati helped a lot," he said. omas also benefitted from a regular habit of reading lubrication- and reliability-focused books written by Gulati, Heinz Bloch and Ricky Smith. He even reviewed sample test questions he received as part of his machinery lubrication and oil analysis training classes in 2014. For the actual exam day, Achebe offered a few last- minute preparation tips. "e night before the exam day, in spite of my anxieties, I made sure I slept for eight hours," he said. "I arrived at the exam venue one hour ahead of the commencement time so I could get 45 minutes to review my exam preparation notes. en I took several minutes for silent meditation in prayers to God. I avoided coffee that morning and made sure I emptied my bladder just before the exam started. ese are very minor details, but they really count." Anyone who has ever sat through a four-hour exam knows Achebe's advice should not be taken lightly. ML