02-03 SEP 2026
IMA WORLD
MAINTENANCE
FORUM 2026
Genoa - Italy
IMA WORLD MAINTENANCE FORUM 2026
INTERNATIONAL MAINTENANCE ASSOCIATION
The International Maintenance Association (IMA) has chosen the 2019 Conference Theme after conducting a survey among a committee of many Subject Matter Experts, Maintenance Specialists, and Academics from different parts of the Globe.
The IMA is a worldwide organization comprising members of 30 countries on five major continents, with members from North America, South America, Africa, Australia, the Middle East, the Far East, and Europe. Members include Researchers, Senior Managers, and Subject Matter Experts operating in the maintenance and asset management industry, as specialists, curriculum developers, and trainers in different fields. The aim of this Body is to enhance Physical Assets Maintenance Management.
INTERNATIONAL MAINTENANCE ASSOCIATION
The World Maintenance Forum 2026 (WMF 2026) is a premier international forum organized by the International Maintenance Association (IMA), dedicated to advancing excellence in maintenance, reliability, and asset management across industries worldwide.
WMF 2026 will take place on Wednesday, 2 September and Thursday, 3 September 2026, in Genoa, Italy, hosted by the Department under the University of Genoa. The forum will bring together senior industry professionals, academics, researchers, technology providers, and decision-makers to exchange knowledge, align global perspectives, and co-create practical solutions for the future of maintenance.
The forum is strongly anchored in research and applied practice. WMF 2026 will serve as the official presentation and working platform for IMA-led international research studies, developed in collaboration with experts from academia and industry.
Research Study Topic: Global Maintenance Certification Standards Study: Landscape and Gaps
WORLD
MAINTENANCE
FORUM 2026
IMA WORLD
MAINTENANCE FORUM 2026
Research Highlight — Global Maintenance Certification Standards Study
One of the key highlights of the World Maintenance Forum 2026 is the exclusive presentation of IMA’s flagship research initiative:
“Global Maintenance Certification Standards Study: Landscape and Gaps.”
This ongoing international study provides the first structured, global view of maintenance-related certification schemes, competency frameworks, and professional standards across regions and industries. The research examines what exists today, where critical gaps remain, and how fragmented certification landscapes impact workforce mobility, skills recognition, and maintenance excellence worldwide.
During WMF 2026, participants will gain early access to:
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A comparative overview of global maintenance and asset management certification models
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Identified gaps between industry needs, educational outcomes, and existing certification frameworks
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Key challenges in harmonization, recognition, and credibility of maintenance certifications
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Strategic insights to support the development of future-ready, globally aligned certification pathways
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The forum will serve as a working platform where industry leaders, academic experts, and professional bodies will actively discuss, validate, and contribute to the study’s findings. Attendees will have the opportunity to shape the direction and recommendations of this landmark initiative before its final release.
Participation in WMF 2026 offers a unique opportunity to be part of a globally significant conversation that will influence how maintenance competencies are defined, recognized, and developed in the years ahead.
ABOUT THE FORUM
The International Maintenance Association's (IMA) Event: "World Maintenance Forum" (WMF) is the leading event in the globe for Maintenance and Operations Best Practices and includes the aspects of Asset and Facility Management related to these domains.
COMMUNICATION
The Conference serves as an biennial gathering connects IMA with other stakeholders from private and public sectors from all over the world.
DISCUSSION
The exchange of professional and scientific experiences will take place with IMA partners from the public and private sector from all over the world.
UPDATE
Presentations and workshops will share up-to-date best practices in Maintenance Engineering and other relevant disciplines.
B2B & B2C
Experiences will be transferred and knowledge enhanced concerning maintenance, and asset and facility management.
EDUCATION & TRAINING
A study will be addressed arising from the worldwide survey on Digitalization of Assets, Facilities, and Maintenance Management: Shaping the Future of Maintenance
WHY SHOULD ATTEND
WHY YOU SHOULD ATTEND?
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To Review and debate the initial REPORT of the study and its findings by international O&M experts from many Maintenance Societies worldwide.
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Detailed workshops will also be offered during the conference period.
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The conference provides participants with a professional platform and a unique opportunity:
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To Network with an outstanding group of Maintenance Societies, Maintenance Training and Education experts.
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Improve your systems for Operations Management, Reduce Business Complexity, Optimize Maintenance and Reliability.
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The conference will be held in a setting in which all participants can share ideas and solve problems.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
This conference is a worldwide invitation to Maintenance Organizations, Societies or Institutes.
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Maintenance Societies
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Maintenance Training Organizations and Institutes
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Reliability Organizations and Societies
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International Maintenance Organizations
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Governmental Maintenance Training Institutes
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Maintenance Management / Asset Management Colleges
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Engineering Societies, Syndicates, or Councils
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Standardization / Organizations/ Agencies
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Research
OUR PARTNERS
COLLABORATIVE PARTNER
STRATEGIC PARTNER
COLLABORATIVE PARTNER
EVENT TOPICS
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Committee Presentation on: “Global Current Practice of Maintenance Education and Training (ME&T)”
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International and Regional Maintenance Training Case studies
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Maintenance Training Best Practice
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International Maintenance Societies, Representatives, Review and Recommendation
Language: The conference will be held in English.
30 - 31 Oct 2019
IMA WORLD
MAINTENANCE
FORUM 2019
Convention Center, Lugano - Switzerland
HOW TO GET THERE
Lugano is extremely easy to reach by means of both public and private transportation. It has a very convenient regional airport with direct connections. Furthermore, the international airport of Milano-Malpensa is located at only 60 km from Lugano and is served by means of a coach service.
Palazzo dei Congressi
Piazza Indipendenza 4
CH-6901 Lugano
Tel. +41 (0)58 866 66 30
Phone +41 (0)58 866 66 39
BY PLANE
Lugano-Agno Airport
Lugano’s airport, located at Lugano-Agno, 6 km from city centre, guarantees: the possibility of parking and the connection to city centre by shuttle bus a small airport that is capable nonetheless of satisfying all traveller requirements short check-in and boarding operations (20 minutes before departure), daily connections between Ticino and the main Swiss cities of Zurich and Geneva and the Italian capital Rome.
Milano-Maplensa International Airport
Lugano is located at only 60 Km from the International airport of Milano-Malpensa. The airport is conveniently served by a shuttle bus service every day.
BY CAR
Lugano is on the international Gothard motorway (Zurich-Chiasso-Milan) that directly connects Northern Europe with the Mediterranean.
Before arriving
Traffic info
Useful information
Parking
It’s possible to conveniently park your car in the multistorey carpark right in front of the Congress Hall, located under Piazza Castello or in other city carparks all reachable on foot.
More informations
BY TRAIN
The FFS, the Swiss National Railway is extremely long and allows you to conveniently reach Lugano from the rest of Switzerland and from other international destinations. From the railway station, the Congress Hall can either be reached on foot (15 min.) or by means of public transportation: the FFS funicular or by line n°2 bus.
More information
International Maintenance Association (IMA)
Address:
Via delle scuole 13, 6900 Paradiso , Switzerland
Telephone:
(41) 91 225 87 13
Office Lugano:
Technical Committee Director: