Best Practices in Maintenance and Reliability

Business Management

• Vision and Mission
• Create a compelling business case
• Tracking and analyzing metrics and KPIs
• Managing change
• Communication
• Regulations and EHS

Manufacturing and Process Reliability

• Maintenance process workflows
• Applying process improvement
• Change management
• Keeping processes updated

Equipment Reliability

• Reliability goals and process expectations
• Evaluating equipment reliability
• Ensuring existing equipment operates reliably
• Ensuring new equipment operates reliably
• Cost-benefit analysis
• Appling reliability strategies
• Adjusting reliability strategies

 Leadership and Organization

• Organizational structure
• Measuring and evaluating staff skills
• Roles and responsibilities
• Hiring and training for capabilities
• Building leadership skills

Work Management

• Identify and approve work
• Work prioritization
• Planning work
• Scheduling work
• Executing work
• Documenting work
• Analyzing and following-up on work
• Performance metrics
• Project planning and tracking
• Utilizing information technology
• The storeroom

This course is one of the five total courses required for the Maintenance and Reliability (MRM) Certificate. The content outline is based on the Society for Maintenance and Reliability Professionals (SMRP) knowledge base. Extensive research was conducted using today’s leading and latest sources for best practices.

Registration Date/Time:
9/23/2025 7:30am Central Time

Event Dates/Times:

• 9/23/2025  8:00am - 4:00pm Central Time
• 9/24/2025  8:00am - 4:00pm Central Time
• 9/25/2025  8:00am - 4:00pm Central Time

This is a HyFlex (in-person and online) taught course. Your registration is for one teaching platform only: in-person or online. Please be prepared to attend all days either in-person or online. Contact us if you have any questions before registering. 

This course uses the Canvas course management and Zoom platforms. A UW NetID is required to access the online course site. Both in-person and online students should obtain a NetID and access the Canvas course website. Your registration confirmation email will walk you through the NetID process and how to access Canvas.

All materials for this course are digital and will be available on the Canvas course website. Access to the course materials and the webinar platform will be provided a few days before the course. Please watch the email address you provided during registration for release dates and pre-course information. Check your spam file if you do not see emails from the "wisc.edu" addresses.

• Program Director

  Jon Wellik

• Instructor

  John Ross

  President

  John L. Ross, Jr has been a practitioner of maintenance and reliability for almost four decades. He is a former Captain in the United States Air Force, a Distinguished Graduate of both the Aircraft Maintenance Officer School and the Squadron Officer School. John is a Gulf War veteran.

  He is a published author of almost two dozen articles and two best-selling books: The Reliability Excellence Workbook, From Ideas to Action; Cover You’re A$$ets, Asset Management at Your Place and at Your Pace.

  John is the President of the international reliability consulting company, Maintenance Innovators, Inc., a global thought leader in equipment reliability. John is the co-founder of the American Reliability & Maintenance Institute; creators and administrators of the Certified Storeroom Manager, Certified Storeroom Technician, and the Certified Professional Reliability Engineer certifications.

  John is a certified Lean Manufacturing facilitator, Process Safety Management SME, and a Certified Maintenance and Reliability Professional (CMRP). John holds a U.S. Patent, an A.S., B.S., M.S. and Ph.D.

If you are planning to attend an Interdisciplinary Professional Programs course, payment is required at the time of registration. Below are the payment options:

Pay by Credit Card

Enroll online and pay by credit card.

• Search for the course on the website and then click on the Enroll Now button from the course webpage.
• Enter all necessary course attendee information and payment information on the course enrollment page.
• You will receive an email to confirm successful enrollment and payment.

Enroll over the phone and pay by credit card.

• Call CERC Registrations at 608-262-2451.
• Provide the registrations representative with:
  • the course name, dates, and/or course number.
  • the necessary course attendee information and payment information.
• You will receive either a mailed document or an email to confirm successful enrollment payment.

Pay by Check

Mail in a completed registration form and check payable to UW Madison.

• Fill out a registration form (found either in the back of the course brochure you received in the mail or here).
• Prepare a check, made payable to UW Madison.
• Mail the registration form and check to: CERC Registrations 21 N Park St, Ste 7101 Madison, WI 53715
• You will receive either a mailed document or an email to confirm successful enrollment and payment.

Pay by Purchase Order

• Request Purchase Order information from interpro@union.wisc.edu
  • If a fee quote is needed, contact custserv@interpro.wisc.edu first
• You will receive an invoice from UW–Madison Business Services for payment, usually within 3–5 business days

Military

If using SF-182 form, please call our registration number at 608-262-2451 or email interpro@union.wisc.edu for details and instructions.

Event Cancellation

We reserve the right to cancel a course due to insufficient enrollment or unforeseen events. If we cancel a course, participants will be notified via email or phone and will be given the option for a full refund or to transfer their registration and any fees paid to another course. We are not responsible for non-refundable plane tickets, hotel reservations, and other travel related expenses. For enrollee Course Cancellation, refer to notes on course page.

If you cannot attend, please notify us no later than one week before your course begins, and we will refund your fee. Cancellations received after this date and no-shows are subject to a $150 administrative fee. You may enroll a substitute at any time before the course starts.