The 2009 RAMS^® “Reliability as a Competitive Advantage: From Theory to Practice” paper and tutorial submissions have been completed and the Program Committee has carefully designed a balanced topical content between theory vs. practice and elementary vs. advanced. The objective is to provide you with research, applications, and ideas that can help you apply your skills to help your company, division, department, agency, or just you - deliver more reliable products and services at competitive costs.

RAMS is well known for its delivery of an outstanding tutorial program, and RAMS 2009 will include a continuation of this tradition. At RAMS 2009, attendees can choose from an offering of twenty tutorials. The topics of these tutorials range from the basic concepts of R&M engineering to advanced topics in cutting-edge areas of R&M research and application. At RAMS 2009, a new program is being offered for tutorial attendees – the RAMS Certificate Program. Read more about this exciting new program in the General Chair's message.

The 2009 Keynote Speaker this year is the Honorable William E. Wright from the United States Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board. Mr. Wright will share with us several actual situations through computer animation of how organizational, equipment, and human reliability influence the complex nature of reliability in the chemical process industries. The title of his keynote address is: Reliability – At what price?

This past year also has seen records in crude oil prices and a lot of discussion about the role of environmentally acceptable oil drilling to help manage gasoline and related product costs. Crude oil is of little value unless it can be removed from the earth, transported, and refined. Since drilling is the first essential element in creating value from this natural resource, we are fortunate to have as the 2009 Banquet Speaker, Martin Craighead, Group President, Baker Hughes Drilling and Evaluation. He will share pictures and video of the current technologies used in this highly equipment intensive industry. The title of his presentation is: Deeper, Faster, Hotter: Reliability's critical role in the search for oil and gas

In January, 2009, RAMS will mark its 55^th year in Fort Worth, Texas. Regardless of the products, systems, and processes that create your reliability universe, there is a great deal more to learn than can be obtained in any classroom, library or literature search. Please join us in Fort Worth for a rich, human-based experience, in a unique, historical environment, where we can learn from each other.