ATS executive elected to SMRPCO board of directors

Advanced Technology Services
Tags: maintenance and reliability

Advanced Technology Services announced August 11 that Vlad Bacalu, business development manager, has been appointed to the board of directors of the Society for Maintenance & Reliability Professionals Certifying Organization (SMRPCO).

“The manufacturing industry continues to be an integral part of the American economy, and Vlad Bacalu offers the knowledge and experience vital to serving clients operating in such a nationally important, high-profile space,” said Jeffrey Owens, ATS president. “Vlad has distinguished himself throughout his career with his focus on excellent client service and dedication to the industry-recognized Certified Maintenance and Reliability Professional (CMRP) program.”

In his new role, Bacalu plans to work with other members to improve existing certifications that support the maintenance and reliability community, and to increase the awareness and recognition of certifications offered by SMRPCO. In joining the SMRPCO’s board of directors, Bacalu will have the opportunity to continue learning from other world-class maintenance organizations, similarly focused to ATS, on supporting maintenance as an essential component of business management.

“I am committed to expanding our role as an industry leader by helping to educate our company’s maintenance professionals in the best theories and principles of maintenance” said Bacalu. “Production maintenance is our core competency, and by elevating our knowledge on the subject, we are able to provide consistent service for our clients with improved productivity and lower costs.”

Bacalu has served in a variety of leadership and strategic committee positions during his five years with the Society of Maintenance and Reliability Professionals (SMRP), including chair of the CIMM (Certified Industrial Maintenance Mechanic) Strategic Planning Group. As chair of the CIMM Strategic Planning Group, Bacalu helped improve and launch the CIMM exam that provides a third-party, objective assessment and confirmation of the skills of an industrial maintenance mechanic. He also participated in several other committees, including the SMRPCO Advisory Committee.

Bacalu was the first ATS employee to take and pass the CMRP exam in July 2005, and he subsequently introduced the exam to ATS. Today, more than 90 employees and members of the executive leadership team have passed the CMRP exam. Bacalu joined ATS in 1993.

About Advanced Technology Services:
ATS makes factories run better. Advanced Technology Services (ATS) improves the productivity and profitability for many of the world's most respected manufacturers through the managed services of production equipment maintenance, information technology and spare parts repair. Born out of the need for American manufacturers to remain competitive in a fast changing global economy, ATS is the recognized leader in outsourced production equipment maintenance. ATS is headquartered in Peoria, IL with offices and services centers located in Greenville, S.C.; Chicago; Detroit; Monterrey, Mexico; Puerto Rico; the United Kingdom; and China.