A new program to
certify plant engineers, instituted in November 1975, was
accessed by 400 professionals its first year. This flagship
program, Certified Plant Engineer (CPE), which now resides
on the Internet, establishes the association as a standard
bearer internationally, setting the bar for all the knowledge
and skillsets needed for that position.
During the 1990s,
as business, manufacturing and technology sectors underwent
great change, the AIPE's research showed their members' job
titles were changing. By the mid-nineties, only 28% of members
described themselves as plant engineers; 72% described themselves
as facilities engineers or managers. In response to this changing
landscape, in November 1995, the American Institute of Plant
Engineers renamed itself the Association for Facilities Engineering
(AFE).
In 1998 AFE launched
the Certified Plant Maintenance Manager credential program
(CPMM), which defines standards of competence for industrial,
commercial and institutional maintenance management. This
was popular from the start, and remains so today.
In early 2000,
articles from AFE's journal were reprinted in magazines based
in Spain and Singapore. The organization's journal articles
and conference sessions focused heavily on new uses of technology
to improve the facilities professional's efficiency.
In 2003, AFE adopted
its new (and current) mission statement. With the most recent
addition of a new Certified Plant Supervisor program in 2003,
the AFE distinguished itself as the only (U.S.) engineering
association that spans across all core competencies for certification
and recertification. By far the highlight of 2004 was celebration
of AFE's 50th anniversary. The association's golden anniversary
was celebrated in a myriad of events culminating in the Annual
meeting in Florida. In 2005 AFE launched an initiative to
support a chapter in Mexico, and an agreement to offer its
certification programs to the Korea Institute of Plant Engineering
and Construction. In the fall, the AFE Foundation began accepting
donations to be used for assistance to people affected by
Hurricane Katrina.
During this time
the organization empowered its members and reinforced its
international presence by making more information accessible
on its web site. Our Professional Development Department began
presenting "webinars" — seminars conducted via the
worldwide web. These popular one-hour sessions enabled people
to learn about important facilities topics from the convenience
of their own workplaces. AFE has also leveraged the web for
virtual chats and an e-journal as well as asynchronous (individualized
self-paced) learning in a large range of skillsets including
technology, business administration, accounting, languages,
and sales & marketing.
Following the 50th
anniversary celebration, AFE's Board of directors looked again
at how the association was holding its place in the facilities
engineering world, and the association world in general. After
careful analysis it was agreed that AFE needed an overhaul,
including a new focus on greater growth in membership, services,
and influence.
In 2006, under
the guidance of a new Board and a new Executive Director,
AFE initiated a taskforce to review the impact of the current
governance structure. The findings recommended that the organization
become less cumbersome in management decision making, and
be more customer (member) focused in all activities.
By-law changes
to the AFE structure followed that downsized the Board from
19 members to 9 and created a dynamic committee structure
to fit the volunteer leadership. A shift was made to create
an organization where the membership was key to the decision
making process, pushing the strength of the organization down
to the chapter and grassroots levels.
In its aim to increase
influence in the facilities marketplace, the organization
moved it's headquarters to the Washington DC area, allowing
AFE to work side by side with the leaders of business and
government in the facilities arena.
The development
of new and better services and programs has allowed AFE to
grow its membership through 2007/8 and has re-installed a
faith in the membership that AFE is the GO-TO organization
both nationally and internationally for facilities technical
training, education, and information exchange.
