In Europe, industry in particular has shown signs of recovery in the early part of the year. Germany has increased its investments in defense and infrastructure, Poland's economy is growing faster than the EU average, and in several countries, industry is once again acting as the economic driver. In Finland, too, the industrial recovery is bringing much-needed positive momentum.

As production lines accelerate and investments increase, a question arises that directly affects the field of maintenance: are there enough people who know how to do it?

There is already a shortage of experienced maintenance experts. At the same time, the level of demands in the field is rising.

Maintenance is no longer just about fixing faults or performing predefined maintenance tasks. It is increasingly about understanding systems, interpreting data, and making proactive decisions.

Technological upheaval has rapidly changed professional images.

The job of a maintenance engineer is not the same as it was a decade ago. Real-time condition monitoring, sensor technology, data analytics and artificial intelligence-based predictions are part of everyday life in many organizations. This development does not reduce the need for experts – on the contrary. It changes the focus of expertise.

Tomorrow’s maintenance will require professionals who, in addition to measurement technology, also master data management, analytics and reporting. The ability to combine technical understanding with digital tools is needed.

Maintenance is no longer routine, but expert work and its value is directly reflected in the reliability and competitiveness of production.

Therefore, one key question for us is: where do we find these new factors?

Perhaps we need to look in that famous mirror. Could maintenance also offer an attractive career path for experts in information technology, automation or data analytics?

Could we communicate our industry more boldly from a technology and impact perspective – not just as a support function, but as a strategic competitive factor?

Maintenance is the invisible backbone of society. It ensures that factories run, energy flows and infrastructure functions. When we succeed in making this visible and opening the doors to multidisciplinary expertise, the industry can become even more attractive.

The creators of the future may not yet know that they belong to maintenance. Our job is to tell them why they should.