Technological platform to trade success with associates & stakeholders
It was on Engineers Day in 2014 that a few like-minded individuals joined hands to form the Mechanical Electrical Plumbing engineers Association (MEPA) with the aim to create a technological platform to trade success and wealth with all the stakeholders and associates in the MEP (mechanical, engineering and plumbing) construction industry across the world by providing them latest technology solutions. Over time, MEPA became a knowledge-sharing platform that taps expert knowhow through various associations.
A government-registered organisation, MEPA contributes towards the building sector, especially the hospitality industry for its best effectiveness of MEP services for comfort, health, safety and ease of enjoyments through training to project and maintenance MEP engineers. Apart from India, MEPA has members in the USA, the UK, the UAE, the Gulf countries, Australia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Maldives and many other nations.
ROLE OF HOSPITALITY ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS IN A HOTEL’S COST-EFFECTIVENESS
The primary aspect is to impart adequate training to the engineering staff so that the workforce can be optimised. Another big ticket item is energy conservation to save the HLP cost by ensuring guest satisfaction without compromising on customer and staff safety by switching over to energy efficiency lighting, having BEE-approved five-star rated equipment, developing and adhering robust maintenance as well as timely periodic preventive maintenance schedules.
TRAINING PROGRAMMES FOR THE FRATERNITY
MEPA organised a conference at Hyatt Regency Pune before Covid-19 pandemic hit the world for training on the latest technologies and MEP services challenges in high-rise buildings including luxury homes, apartments and luxury hotels which received tremendous response.
CHALLENGES MEPA ENGINEERS FACE
The most important one is to cope up with the operational requirements to achieve guest satisfaction by optimising cost-effective solutions.
MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS
MEPA has done four mega events in five star hotels on technical subjects related to MEP as well as completed six batches of classroom training and one batch of online training. MEPA has 1,800 members globally and is a trustworthy association and a platform for sharing knowledge and contact points to get information on MEP professionals, consultants, suppliers, vendors and contractors.
ROLE MEPA PLAYED DURING THE PANDEMIC
The period of pandemic was a challenging one but we, at MEPA, tried to help the engineers develop touchfree mechanised and electrostatic sanitisers, gave guidance for ideal operations and preventive maintenance of electricity, steam, cold-hot water, potable water, air-conditioning and refrigeration and maintaining engineering and services of various other equipment and specifically suggested UV tube attachments to FCUs and AHUs We then started online training for the same along with all MEP services to enhance engineers’ knowledge to become multi-skilled professionals.
FUTURE PLANS
We plan to have more associations with hotel owners and senior management for betterment in the MEP services in hotel properties by doing MEP services, design verifications, value engineering, energy audits, providing solutions for all issues related to MEP services. Secondly, to have incremental new member registrations and participation by the engineers from the hotels from every corner of world and have country-wise MEPA chapters to commence work together towards controlling global warming by creating awareness to avoid air and water pollution. And then comes the mission to save water, save energy, save trees, save environment and save earth.
