Moving into the New Year, just as it was coming out of the last one, among the most critical issues confronting our readers is that "perfect storm" brewing out there in the maintenance field. As contributor Bob Williamson notes in his article beginning on page 20 this month, an ill-prepared workforce in the skilled trades area has implications that will be haunting U.S. industry for years to come.

Throughout 2006, Maintenance Technology will continue to address these concerns through hard-hitting news, articles and commentary from industry experts. We're also asking you, our readers, to get in on the act, as well, by participating in our online survey (through www.mt-online.com) regarding the status of and support for comprehensive training programs (or lack of same) within your operations. It's a great opportunity for you to weigh in and help your operations and others across the country in dealing with this crisis situation. To take part, please click here.

The survey runs through early April. We plan to compile the results and share the findings at this year's Maintenance and Reliability Technology Summit (MARTS), in Rosemont, IL, the week of April 17. In the meantime, speaking of MARTS 2006, we know how limited many training budgets are today. One of the best things you, as a maintenance manager, can do for your company is to leverage precious training dollars through the significant training opportunities MARTS offers you and your staff.

We're very excited about MARTS 2006, and we think you will be, too. That's because the technical conference will bring together a wealth of fresh faces, fresh ideas and fresh solutions that are sure to benefit your maintenance operations. The best. The brightest. The newest. They'll be at MARTS 2006.

For example, we'll not only be offering the type of practical, solutions-filled technical sessions you've come to expect from past MARTS, we'll also be rolling out two powerful new tracks.

• Our new Energy Management Track will focus on strategies that can help you drive profits through energy efficiency. With energy costs skyrocketing, few facilities have not been required to seriously consider how energy consumption impacts the life of their equipmentÐand the future of their operations. As a maintenance professional, you no doubt already understand how the poor-maintenance/wasted-energy/reduced-reliability relationship works. But, do you know how costly it is for your company? In the MARTS Energy Management Track, you'll learn how others are taking those costs off their books and actually enhancing their bottom lines.
• Our new Executive Track will focus on management issues. Among other things, presenters will discuss best practices, KPIs, world-class manufacturing strategies and where the "real money" can be found in having a proactive maintenance program. The MARTS Executive Track is specifically geared to help "in-the-trenches" maintenance professionals like yourself "sell" the value of maintenance activities all the way up the ladder to top management. In fact, we strongly encourage you to invite executives from your company to join you for this dynamic offering.

There are a number of other "new" features at MARTS 2006, including the opportunity to earn continuing educations units (CEUs) in any of our nine workshop courses and two certification courses. And, you certainly want to see and hear our great Keynote Speaker, Jeff Hammond, current host of Fox Sports' NASCAR show, "Hollywood Hotel," and long-time Crew Chief for Darrell Waltrip!

You'll find full details about MARTS 2006 later in this magazine, online at www.MT-online.com and at www.MARTSconference.com Please take the time to review the entire schedule of activities and make plans to join us for this important event.

We'll look forward to seeing you there! MT