The MEETA Awards, which took place on 17 November in Engineers Ireland HQ, is an initiative of the organisation’s own voluntary MEETA society, a special interest group for maintenance, reliability and asset management practitioners. MEETA promotes all aspects of maintenance and asset management in industry, the public sector, semi-state bodies and third-level institutions, and represents the interests of its members on national and international issues such as education, infrastructure and development of the practice in Ireland. Prizes were presented by Caroline Spillane, director general of Engineers Ireland and by Ray O’Neill, managing director of the event sponsor, ESS Ltd, in the following categories:

  • Overall Industry, winner, AbbVie, Project: Journey to Maintenance Excellence
  • Management Certificate of Excellence, winner, Dublin Airport Authority:  Project: Asset Care Journey from Zero to Lean
  • Management Category, winner, Abbott, Project: Management Excellence Strategy
  • Safety Category, winner, AbbVie, Project: Safety First
  • Technology Category, winner, Sanofi, Project: PDM – Effective Utilisation for Business Performance
  • Environment Category, winner, AbbVie, Project: Sustainability through Building Design at AbbVie
Speaking at the event, Spillane said: "Safety and maintenance are intrinsically linked and unfortunately too many injuries still occur while maintenance tasks are being carried out or safety is compromised by maintenance tasks poorly executed. “Engineering is playing an ever-greater role in maintenance today as systems become more complex and young engineers will need to develop the skills of maintenance management. Effective and innovative management of equipment and process are the life blood that supports companies in their drive to achieve that competitive edge. “To remain competitive a constant supply suitable talent is required, hence there's strong need to provide a good and readily available source of education in the area of asset management and link to it to safe practice.  That's one of the main reasons we are here [at the MEETA Awards], because people have been innovative and creative in the way they manage their assets whether those assets are people, machines or buildings.” She added: “The job of the asset management professional is evolving constantly, and rapidly. The Internet of Things is one of the forces that is accelerating change at a pace never seen before. This change requires people who can bring about culture change in their organisation, while achieving the required performance and fostering creativity.” Spillane thanked sponsor ESS Ltd, which is a long-standing supporter of the initiative. She also thanked Pat Breen, chair of the MEETA Society and John Coleman, who led the judging panel. The MEETA Society also held its annual conference on 17 November. The theme of the conference was Maintaining the Balance, and focused on management of plant and equipment throughout its useful life.  Dr Kieran Feighan, president of Engineers Ireland, opened the event. Since 1984, the conference has provided a forum for maintenance practitioners, decision makers, experts and solution seekers to meet, discuss problems, seek advice, network and hear the latest industry news.