Click Image to Enlarge

“Most people in our field know maintenance,” Janez Tomažin says. “Fewer really understand asset management.

That mission is led by Janez Tomažin, the long-serving chair of EFNMS’s Asset Management Committee, and a man whose career arc mirrors the transformation he now champions.

Starting out in paper mills in Slovenia, Tomažin’s journey from maintenance manager to technical director — and eventually to independent advisor and non-profit leader — has given him a unique vantage point. “I’m still a maintenance guy at heart,” he says. “But I’ve come to understand that if we want maintenance to be valued, we have to speak the language of value.”
That shift didn’t happen alone. Tomažin credits much of his evolution to Kari Komonen, a long-time EFNMS thought leader and one of the architects behind the EN 17485 standard, which links maintenance to asset management across the asset lifecycle.
“Without Kari, I wouldn’t have stepped into asset management,” he says. “He’s been my mentor, and I’m deeply grateful for him.”

From shop floor to strategy. The Asset Management Committee (EAMC) is one of several working bodies within EFNMS, but it operates with a distinct focus: to bring ISO 55000 principles to practical use, and to raise the level of asset management maturity across Europe.

“Most people in our field know maintenance,” Tomažin says. “Fewer really understand asset management. We’re trying to bridge that gap — not only through awareness, but through structure, certification, and shared language.”

That structure is built on several fronts. The committee has developed a one-day training program — the Awareness in Asset Management Certificate (AAMC) aimed at professionals across different roles. It’s already been delivered in countries like Slovenia, Italy, Greece, and Lithuania, with more sessions in the pipeline. Trainers such as Andrej Androjna and
Giedrius Slavickas have played key roles in adapting the content to local contexts and languages.

Global standards, local strength. EFNMS isn’t working alone. Through its collaboration with the Global Forum on Maintenance and Asset Management (GFMAM) and World Partners in Asset Management (WPiAM), the committee is linking Europe’s training schemes with globally recognized certifications like CAMA (Certified Asset Management Assessor).

This global integration effort has involved colleagues like Jan Stoker, an experienced trainer and certification advocate, and Janez Teun Koningen, who contributes to sustainability-focused initiatives. “We have strong individuals pushing these efforts,” Tomažin says. “But our strength comes from the fact that we work together.”

The certification ecosystem is also expanding. As part of the Global Certification Scheme, EFNMS is working to align future levels such as CTAM, CPAM, CSAM, CEAM, and CFAM — a step that would allow European professionals to have their competencies recognized anywhere in the world.

Manuals as strategic tools. One area where Tomažin is especially passionate is documentation — the overlooked power of well-designed maintenance and operational manuals. His message is clear: treat manuals as assets, not just instructions.

“Most manuals are delivered too late, or are written solely by the equipment supplier, or without enough context. But if you involve maintainers during the design phase — if you treat the manual as a strategic tool — it increases safety, reliability, and traceability. It even makes training easier.”

It’s a small example, but it reflects a larger belief: that value is realized not just through assets, but through knowledge, integration, and foresight. Tomažin emphasized this by walking through oil system manuals that incorporate lifecycle thinking, sensor integration, and ISO 55000 guidance — all created collaboratively with operators, engineers, and suppliers.

Collaboration, not siloed behavior. The EAMC’s scope extends into multiple international working groups. Alongside peers like Giel Jurgens, asset management lead at the Port of Rotterdam, and Reinhard Korb, who co-leads a metrics-focused project, the committee contributes to a series of live GFMAM initiatives. Topics include ESG, reliability integration, indicators, and global survey development.

“It’s not about one committee or one country,” says Tomažin. “It’s about harmonizing how we think about value, risk, and performance — across industries, geographies, and organizations.”

Slovenia 2028 — and the road ahead. Recently, EFNMS confirmed that Slovenia will host EuroMaintenance 2028, a bid supported in Athens with backing from both industry and government. Tomažin was part of the team that secured the candidacy.

“It wasn’t easy,” he admits. “But it shows how far asset management has come. Ten years ago, few people in ministries or chambers of commerce had even heard of ISO 55000. Now they’re backing an international event built around it.”

What comes next? Though officially retired, Tomažin still works full days — writing, advising, organizing, and mentoring. What keeps him going is the impact he sees in others: when a technician starts thinking strategically, when leader shifts focus from uptime to lifecycle value, when national societies come together under a shared vision.

“I want people to remember that I started in the field,” he says. “And that I worked to help maintenance professionals — people like me — be taken seriously at the strategic table. Asset management makes that possible.”

Text: Mia Heiskanen   Photo: Janez Tomažin photo archive

From Awareness to Accreditation

Click Image to Enlarge

EFNMS and WPiAM certification pathways:
• AAMC – Awareness in Asset Management Certificate: 1-day training for professionals at all levels
• CAMA – Certified Asset Management Assessor: internationally recognized certification available via exam, prior learning, or equivalency
• Future levels: Certified Technical, Practitioner, Senior, Executive, and Fellow in Asset Management (CTAM, CPAM, CSAM, CEAM, CFAM)
These pathways are designed to align European qualifications with global standards, ensuring recognition and mobility across industries and borders.