General Chair’s Message

As a General Chair of RAMS 2022, it is my pleasure to welcome you to the 68th Annual Reliability and Maintainability Symposium. RAMS® is sponsored by eight professional societies who have a passion for reliability, availability, maintainability, and/or safety (RAMS). RAMS® is completely managed and organized by volunteers from the sponsoring societies. These volunteers on the Management Committee will be working hard all year to produce a symposium that will provide a unique experience across the entire RAMS body of knowledge. Attendees have the opportunity to learn through tutorials, technical papers, expert panel discussions, keynote and banquet speakers, and interaction and networking with other professionals.

This year’s theme is “opportunities for machine learning in reliability and maintainability.” This theme was selected because the growing impact of technological advancement and interdependencies among various engineering systems and infrastructure. The availability of real-time data streams and new levels of complexity in human-machine interface and autonomous systems, the use of big data and machine learning tools has become imperative. This year’s theme provides an opportunity to researchers and professionals to get together and explore the opportunities machine learning tools provide to reliability and maintainability profession. The response to the Call for Papers and Tutorials was exceptional. The Program and Tutorial Committees have done an outstanding job of selecting those papers and tutorials that are highly relevant to the needs of RAMS attendees, and formed them into an outstanding program. For attendees accompanied by their spouses, we have a great spouse program.

Additionally, RAMS is an extremely effective and cost-efficient way to educate yourself and your associates in reliability, maintainability, and future challenges and opportunities that this profession faces. RAMS attendees will be able to participate in 22 comprehensive Tutorials, 32 Technical Paper Sessions, 4 invited Panel Sessions, the RAMS Advisory Board Panel, and a Poster Session. The variety and depth of the program will satisfy the range of attendees from novice to seasoned expert. Tutorials present a unique “basic to advanced” forum, and qualify for Continuing Education Units (CEUs), as well as our RAMS Tutorial Certificate Program. Paper sessions complement the tutorials, with emphasis on demonstrating effective practical applications and theory. The Panel sessions feature company engineers and high-level government, corporate and academic experts providing their insight and experience. The always popular RAMS® Advisory Board Panel will discuss future topics of interest and the state of the industry, including a question-and-answer period, along with the normal Advisory Board Panel based on the 2023 symposium theme. The Exhibits program features sources of tools and expertise carefully selected to be consistent with the content of the technical program.

We are especially excited about the location of RAMS 2022 – El Conquistador Tucson, A Hilton Resort. Nestled in the heart of Arizona’s most spectacular desert and mountain scenery, Tucson is the state’s second largest city, a friendly, welcoming place with more than 300 days of sunshine a year. This location offers the ideal mix of uniquely southwest amenities to enhance your resort experience. With views of the stunning Catalina Mountains and beautiful Arizona desert, this luxurious hotel in Tucson, Arizona offers 3 world-class golf courses, relaxing spa services and enjoyable outdoor pools.

I am confident that RAMS 2022 will exceed your expectations, and I look forward to meeting you at RAMS® 2022 in Tucson!

Om Yadav
RAMS 2022 General Chair
Professor, Chair and Professor at North Carolina A&T State University