Maintenance Masters:
Turning Downtime into Uptime

NWIRC’s Maintenance Masters Certification is more than a training series—it’s a mindset shift for manufacturers ready to move from reactive repairs to proactive reliability. Across the region, maintenance teams are stepping up to lead operational excellence, and this program is giving them the tools to do it.

Developed in response to one of the most persistent pain points in manufacturing—unplanned downtime—the six-part monthly series helps companies rethink how they approach maintenance. With 90% of maintenance typically performed after equipment fails, the costs in lost productivity, scrap, and morale can be staggering. Maintenance Masters flips that model by teaching teams how to anticipate issues, plan smarter, and build systems that support long-term performance.

Led by Jeffrey Craig, CMRP, a nationally recognized Reliability & Maintenance Professional, the program covers everything from Preventive and Predictive Maintenance (PM/PdM) to Root Cause Analysis, Planning & Scheduling, and Maintenance Leadership. Each session is hosted by a regional manufacturer, giving participants the chance to learn in real-world environments and see how other companies are tackling similar challenges.

Some of the host companies for the upcoming cohort include The Warren Company (Erie), Dresser Utility Solutions (Bradford), Associated Spring (Corry), Eriez Magnetics (Erie), and American Refining Group (Bradford). These manufacturers are opening their doors to support peer learning and elevate maintenance as a strategic function—not just a support role. Participants leave with a new lens for solving problems, reducing costs, and improving equipment reliability.

Whether you’re a plant manager looking to upskill your team or a company interested in hosting a future session, Maintenance Masters delivers measurable impact. It’s not just about fixing what’s broken—it’s about building systems that prevent breakdowns in the first place. More info at: nwirc.org/maintenance.