November 2025: Updated Standard for Maintenance Personnel Qualification Released

Staying ahead in facilities management and organizational quality means keeping pace with evolving international standards. November 2025 brought a significant development for the service and maintenance industry with the release of EN 15628:2025, a comprehensive European standard that defines the knowledge, skills, and competencies required for maintenance personnel working across plant, infrastructure, and production systems. This update addresses the growing complexity of modern maintenance roles and is essential reading for industry professionals focused on compliance, workforce development, and operational excellence.

Overview / Introduction

The modern maintenance sector is the backbone of industrial reliability, production efficiency, and facility uptime. As service organizations face increasing demands due to digitalization, sustainability goals, and asset complexity, clear qualification standards for maintenance staff are more vital than ever. Standards like EN 15628:2025 guide organizations in ensuring that individuals tasked with maintaining assets possess the right technical and managerial acumen.

In this article, you'll discover:

• How EN 15628:2025 sets new benchmarks for maintenance personnel qualification
• The specific competencies defined for technicians, supervisors, engineers, and managers
• Practical implications for implementing these guidelines in your organization
• How this standard supports training, career development, and compliance within the service sector

Detailed Standards Coverage

EN 15628:2025 - Maintenance - Qualification of Maintenance Personnel

Full Standard Title: Maintenance - Qualification of Maintenance Personnel

What the Standard Covers: EN 15628:2025 provides a comprehensive framework for qualifying staff responsible for maintenance activities in plants, infrastructure, and production systems. It replaces the 2014 edition, presenting an updated hierarchy of roles, each with associated tasks, skills, and knowledge requirements. The standard applies equally to in-house teams and outsourced services, ensuring that anyone engaged in maintenance work can be evaluated and developed according to recognized European best practices.

Scope and Role Definitions: The standard outlines qualifications for four principal maintenance positions:

• Maintenance Technician Specialist: Focused on hands-on implementation of maintenance plans, troubleshooting, and using digital systems (e.g., CMMS). Emphasis is placed on safe execution and adherence to best practices.
• Maintenance Supervisor: Oversees and coordinates maintenance activities, resource planning, and ensures compliance with safety and organizational requirements.
• Maintenance Engineer: Applies engineering expertise in process improvement, design, reliability analysis, and technology integration, assisting managers in aligning maintenance plans with corporate strategies.
• Maintenance Manager: Leads organizational maintenance strategies, policy setting, budgetary oversight, and ensures lifecycle asset value through effective governance and sustainability practices.

Key Requirements and Specifications:

• Describes required competencies based on responsibility, autonomy, and technical capacity.
• Aligns with the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) to standardize learning outcomes and competency levels.
• Defines essential skills (e.g., analytical thinking, technical troubleshooting, ICT literacy) and knowledge areas (laws, safety, reliability, sustainability) vital for each role.
• Provides a structure for training programs, skills validation, and career advancement within maintenance organizations.
• Offers adaptable templates for organizations to customize job profiles and qualification schemes according to specific operational needs, including an example of organizational structure (Annex A).

Notable Changes from Previous Edition:

• New structure aligned with related standards (notably EN 17007 for maintenance processes)
• Inclusion of the Maintenance Engineer role
• Expanded detail on knowledge requirements, especially regarding advanced technologies, sustainability, and circular economy
• Stronger linkage to the European Qualification Framework for consistency and mobility in professional competencies

Target Organizations and Industries: Any company operating physical assets—manufacturers, facility managers, transport operators, utilities, and organizations managing production or infrastructure—will benefit from these guidelines. The standard is especially pertinent for quality managers, HR specialists involved in training, compliance officers, and engineering leaders.

Practical Implementation Implications:

• Guides the development of job descriptions, internal training, and competency evaluation processes
• Supports procurement and outsourcing by defining clear qualification benchmarks
• Enhances safety, reliability, and regulatory compliance through structured workforce development
• Assists in aligning maintenance team structures with organization strategies and industry best practice

Key highlights:

• Four defined maintenance roles, each mapped to specific skills and knowledge
• Alignment with the European Qualifications Framework for consistency and mobility
• Guidance for both in-house and outsourced maintenance personnel qualification

Access the full standard:View EN 15628:2025 on iTeh Standards

Industry Impact & Compliance

Compliance and Competitive Advantage: Adopting EN 15628:2025 boosts organizational credibility and performance. By aligning maintenance staff qualifications with European benchmarks, businesses minimize operational risk, improve equipment reliability, and offer greater transparency to partners, insurers, and regulators. Implementation can also be a decisive factor in competitive bidding (especially for outsourced services) and supports international mobility of maintenance talent.

Key Compliance Considerations:

• National standardization bodies are expected to implement EN 15628:2025 by May 2026, with conflicting versions withdrawn by that date.
• Organizations must map internal job roles and training programs to the new requirements ASAP.
• Where specialization or sector-specific training is needed, EN 15628:2025 is to be adapted—but always referenced for core qualification principles.

Benefits of Early Adoption:

• Improved safety and reduction of human error
• Increased uptime and asset availability
• Clearer career paths and improved staff retention
• Enhanced auditability for regulatory authorities

Risks of Non-Compliance:

• Regulatory penalties in high-risk and safety-critical environments
• Increased likelihood of incidents due to poorly qualified staff
• Loss of market access, especially where standards are a client or regulatory requirement
• Reputational damage and lower staff morale

Technical Insights

Common Technical Requirements: EN 15628:2025 emphasizes both technical mastery and soft skills across the four major roles:

• Technical Competence: Mastery of maintenance plans, equipment diagnostics, modern techniques (e.g., condition monitoring, predictive maintenance)
• Knowledge of Laws/Regulations: Health, safety, environmental protection, relevant national/EU directives
• ICT Systems and Digital Tools: Competency in using and managing CMMS, maintenance analytics, and digital reporting
• Continuous Improvement and Innovation: Familiarity with Industry 4.0 enablement (big data, digital twins, robotics, etc.)

Implementation Process Best Practices:

1. Conduct a gap analysis between current staff profiles and EN 15628:2025 requirements
2. Update job descriptions and training plans, referencing the new competencies
3. Work with accredited training providers to align employee development
4. Establish mechanisms for periodic evaluation, validation, and documentation of staff skills
5. Foster cross-functional collaboration among technicians, engineers, and managers

Testing and Certification: Although EN 15628:2025 does not mandate specific sectoral certifications, it serves as a sound foundation for developing assessment and validation schemes tailored to various industries. Pairing this with sector-specific standards or in-house certification programs can further strengthen compliance and workforce capability.

Conclusion / Next Steps

With the publication of EN 15628:2025, the path is clear for organizations aiming to professionalize maintenance operations, assure compliance, and boost reliability. The standard not only clarifies expectations at every level of the maintenance function, but also strengthens the link between operational excellence and personnel development.

Key takeaways:

• EN 15628:2025 defines a robust, adaptable framework for qualifying all key maintenance personnel
• Alignment with EU frameworks supports workforce mobility, benchmarking, and continuous improvement
• Early planning and engagement with this standard will optimize transition and compliance

Recommendations:

• Review your current maintenance staff structures and qualification paths
• Engage with HR and training partners to update programs as per EN 15628:2025
• Communicate with your clients and stakeholders about your alignment with the new standard
• Visit iTeh Standards for ongoing updates and access to the full standard documents

Staying informed and agile in the dynamic field of facilities and maintenance management means turning standards into a cornerstone of your strategy. To explore this and related standards, ensure you visit:

Access the full standard:View EN 15628:2025 on iTeh Standards

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