Publicado em 08 de abril de 2012

Concepts, techniques and methodologies were presented during the course.

Early this month, Sobratema’s Instituto Opus (Opus Institute) gave a course on Equipment Fleet Management to a group of 46 servicemen at the 2nd Battalion of Combat Engineering, also known as the “Borba Gato Battalion”, in Pindamonhangaba - a city in the interior of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. The purpose of this course is to convey knowledge that is essential for the rational management of an equipment fleet.
The opening of the course was officiated by Sobratema Vice-president Octávio Lacombe and had the participation of military personnel of various ranks - major, captain, lieutenant and sergeants. The two-day course was delivered by mechanical engineer Norwil Veloso - author of the book entitled “Gerenciamento e Manutenção de Equipamentos Móveis” (Management and Maintenance of Mobile Equipment) - published in Portuguese by Sobratema.

According to Wilson de Mello Junior, director of Instituto Opus, the course program was developed so as to allow military personnel to apply the concepts, techniques and methodologies presented during the course in their day-to-day work activities. Upon termination of the course, participants were awarded their certificates of conclusion by Sobratema director and engineer Hugo José Ribas Branco, who himself had served at the same battalion as a lieutenant in 1964, and later in the early 1970s when he had already graduated from the IME – Instituto Militar de Engenharia (Military Institute of Engineering) as a construction engineer.

“The 2nd BE Cmb (2nd Battalion of Combat Engineering) in Pindamonhangaba is part of my life. At this unit of military engineering, I served very proudly in 1964; at the time as a First Lieutenant.  In Pindamonhangaba, I married. Therefore, it was with deep sentiment that I had the honor of returning to my dear home to participate in presenting the certificates of conclusion to servicemen from twelve of Brazil’s states who successfully and brilliantly concluded the Course on Equipment Fleet Management given on behalf of Instituto Opus by our collaborator and friend Norwil Veloso”, say Ribas.
According to a survey conducted by the Instituto Opus after the conclusion of the course on equipment fleet management, the outstanding majority of participants (90%) evaluated the course as having met their expectations.
Instituto Opus has been giving courses to members of the Brazilian Army since 2011. The Institute has qualified over 200 servicemen in the last six months.