Belgium accelerates sustainable industrial transformation through digital maintenance innovation
Belgium has carved out a noteworthy path in the realm of maintenance and asset management, largely through the pioneering efforts of the Belgian Maintenance Association (BEMAS). Since its inception in 1989, BEMAS has been central to transforming the sector, advancing it from a narrow technical focus on equipment upkeep to a comprehensive, lifecycle-based discipline embedded with digital innovation and sustainability principles.
Wim Vancauwenberghe, Director of BEMAS, emphasises this broadening scope: “Maintenance now encompasses the entire lifespan of assets.” This evolution has been propelled by the adoption of cutting-edge technologies, including predictive maintenance, IoT, and data-driven decision-making, enabled by Enterprise Asset Management systems. These tools not only enhance operational reliability but also align with international standards such as ISO 55000, facilitating cross-border collaboration and global competitiveness.
The association’s influence extends across Europe through projects like MORE4CORE, launched in 2013 with partners from neighbouring countries to raise maintenance awareness continent-wide. BEMAS’s benchmark studies within this initiative have provided valuable insights into optimising asset strategies throughout their lifecycle, helping companies extend asset longevity, reduce operational costs, and boost performance. Building on these foundations, the MORE4Sustainability project highlights how maintenance is pivotal in advancing energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, underpinning EU climate targets and supporting a sustainable industrial transition in North-West Europe.
A critical challenge that BEMAS continues to address is the talent deficit in maintenance roles, particularly in Flanders and Wallonia where shortages of qualified technicians persist. The sector’s image problem, often perceived as outdated or “dirty”, adds to recruitment difficulties, despite its growing technical sophistication and vital role in supporting digital and sustainable industry. To counter this, BEMAS actively promotes maintenance careers through educational initiatives like Repair Teens, which engages young students in hands-on repair activities, and by offering extensive training programmes. In 2024 alone, nearly 3,000 participants attended over 160 sessions covering everything from technical skills to leadership and sustainability, reflecting a strategic effort to prepare the workforce for future technological demands.
Belgium’s dense industrial ecosystem offers a unique advantage by facilitating ready access to specialised suppliers, spare parts, and maintenance services. This proximity has fostered innovation, making Belgium a hub for condition monitoring and predictive maintenance technologies, supported by a vibrant start-up community. BEMAS’s annual Asset Performance Conference epitomises this convergence of expertise, innovation, and collaboration, attracting global attention and fostering knowledge exchange.
The role of maintenance in achieving sustainability has become increasingly prominent. Well-maintained assets contribute to environmental goals by enhancing efficiency, reducing material waste, and preventing incidents, directly supporting climate ambitions. BEMAS’s Sustainable Asset Management Framework and its multilingual e-learning courses help organisations measure and improve their environmental performance, exemplifying how maintenance extends beyond cost and uptime to become a strategic enabler of the green transition.
Innovation remains at the heart of Belgium’s maintenance advancement, with a majority of manufacturing firms adopting Predictive Maintenance 4.0 initiatives. Future technologies such as digital twins, AI, and generative AI are anticipated to become integral to asset management. Vancauwenberghe highlights the criticality of skilled maintenance professionals as factories evolve into fully data-driven environments, underlining the necessity of continuous talent development and digital adoption to ensure industrial resilience in today’s complex, fragile, and unpredictable landscape.
BEMAS also celebrates maintenance excellence through initiatives like the Technical Team of the Year competition and engages the wider community by participating in awareness campaigns such as the EFNMS European maintenance photo contest. Through its extensive network of approximately 650 corporate members and over 850 contacts, BEMAS functions as a pivotal platform connecting industry players, advancing knowledge, and fostering a sustainable and competitive future for Belgium’s asset-intensive industries.
Reflecting on the association’s journey and impact, Vancauwenberghe expresses pride in the collective effort: “Together with a strong team, a visionary board, and many active members, we serve a valuable community of maintenance, reliability, and asset management professionals, contributing to a sustainable future for Belgian and European industry.