SOCIETIES

Maintenance and Engineering Society

Objectives

The objectives of the Maintenance/Engineering Division (formerly the Mechanical-Electrical Division) are :

1. To promote advancement in the theory and the practice of electrical and mechanical arts and sciences in the mining industry.

2.  To facilitate the exchange of information and data on electrical and mechanical subjects among members of the Institute. In general, to extend the experience and increase the efficiency of persons engaged in the electrical and mechanical aspects of mining by:

a. Holding national, regional and local meetings of the Division to discuss and to interchange information bearing on the electrical and mechanical sciences and their practical application to mining and related subjects.

b. Publishing technical papers, articles and other printed matter of importance to members of the Canadian mining industry at large and dealing specifically with the field of electrical and mechanical sciences. 

3. To give practical service, mainly in the realm of information interchange to mine operating personnel, to consulting engineers and designers, and to suppliers of mine electrical and mechanical equipment. Such service is to be mainly directed to those responsible for the sound operation and maintenance of existing plants and to those engaged in the expanding of existing facilities or in creating new mining projects, and to those engaged in the development of new techniques and/or equipment for use in the mines.

 4. To consider means for minimizing the risks attending the application of electricity and mechanics in the mining industry, by promoting the adoption of approved methods and devices tending to increase safety.

5. To consider methods of improving mechanical-electrical standards and to provide educational assistance in the form of lecture series or correspondence courses for mechanics and electricians employed in the mining industry.
 6. To promote acquaintance and solidarity amongst all those with legitimate interest in applying improved electrical and mechanical equipment and methods to the Canadian mining industry.

 7. The above objectives are to be pursued with the dual purpose of improving equipment and operation in the mining plants and, at the same time, increasing the technical knowledge and experience of the members of the CIM.

How does the Maintenance/Engineering Division serve the mining industry?

Introduction

Our role as a Division within the overall body of the CIM is to facilitate the objectives laid out by the founders. In this capacity, the current executive of the ME Division meet approximately 4 times per year to discuss various matters effecting the Division and how it relates to the general membership of the CIM. Major responsibilities of the ME Division include, organizing Operators Conferences, Annual Technical Sessions at the AGM, administering awards and scholarship programs. All of these activities as well as keeping abreast of a changing industry while trying to anticipate future needs of the Division make for a full program within the executive. The following sections describe in more detail the various activities of the Division.

Operators Conference

The M/E Division has undertaken to offer Bi-Annual Operators Conferences. The intent of these conferences is to provide an opportunity for people who are interested in maintenance/engineering issues within the mining industry to present and discuss related issues in an open and non-competitive environment. For those of you who have attended these conferences, I think you will agree that they have a strong technical content and are worthwhile attending.

Maintenance/Engineering Technical Sessions at the AGM

As a further service to the industry, the M/E Division is responsible for organizing and arranging for a series of technical presentations at the Annual General Meeting of the CIM. Each year, the executive try to focus the theme of the session in a progressive manner keeping pace with the many changes which are happening in our industry.

Awards of the Industry

The executive of the M/E Division are responsible for administering a number of awards and scholarships which are designed to identify, honour and assist individuals who are associated with the CIM M/E Division. To date, the executive administers four such programs, the details of each are presented in the following sections.

- The McParland Memorial Medal
- JD (Pat) Patterson Memorial Scholarship
- The CIM Fellow-ship Award
- Centenial Scholarship
- Nominating a Distinguished Lecturer

Summary

As you can see from the above listed activities, your M/E Executive has some significant programs and activities to administer and direct. As an organization we are continually searching for ways to improve our visibility and accordingly our value as determined by you, the general membership of the CIM. We are striving to make our Division more useful to the membership and welcome any suggestions, ideas, advice or direction which you can offer. Please contact the M/E Division with any thoughts that you may have on this subject at:

Brad Kingston
Principal and Manager
Wardrop Engineering Inc.
725 Hewitson Street
Thunder Bay, ON P7B 6B5
Tel: (807) 345-5453
E-mail : brad.kingston@wardrop.com