Team DMSI spent three days at MainTrain 2026 in Montreal, giving more than 30 mini-presentations to reliability engineers, maintenance managers, plant managers, and maintenance planners. The question we heard most was simple: “What does MAINTelligence™ do, and how could it help my site?”
Our answers came back to four concerns: paper data that isn’t helping prevent downtime, spare parts inventory, getting value from AI, and getting employees on board with Asset Performance Management.
What reliability and maintenance teams talked about at MainTrain 2026
Getting site data off the paper
Data was the most consistent theme at our booth. Several attendees told us their plant has paper data from every area sitting on a desk, and their teams feel overwhelmed and don’t know how to use it, so information that could help protect the plant from downtime goes unused. We walked them through MAINTelligence™ Insights, our dashboard solution, which we can customize by role or department so a maintenance manager sees what matters to their area without sorting through plant-wide data.
ALCO Energy Canada, an Ontario ethanol producer, is ready to make the move. Paul Morin travelled to Montreal partly to meet with us and has set up a MAINTelligence™ demo to explore a paperless process for his team.
Our current client Irving Paper is taking the next step. Mike Roy and Rick Baker plan to bring more of their inspection activities into MAINTelligence™, and Mike ordered additional handheld devices at the show to make that happen. Their team also plans additional MAINTelligence™ training, either online or on-site.
Keeping spare parts stocked
Inventory accuracy, visibility and parts information were common challenges among the maintenance teams we met. When a technician pulls a part for a repair and nobody updates the count, the next job that needs that part can stall. MAINTelligence™ handles this with a min-max reorder process. When a technician removes a part, MAINTelligence™ reorders a replacement based on the minimum and maximum levels your team sets, so replacement parts are on hand when the next job needs them.
AI and getting employees on board
AI was one of the biggest topics at MainTrain 2026, both in the sessions and in the conversations that followed. Attendees across industries want to know how to get the most out of it at their plants. For plants still working from paper, the first step is getting that data into a system, since AI can only work with information it can reach.
AI wasn’t the only topic on people’s minds. When we asked about Asset Performance Management, some plants told us their biggest challenge is getting employees on board with the change. Software can support an APM program, but plant-floor teams need to see why the change is worth making before it can take hold.
Quantifying the ROI of reliability with MAINTelligence™
With so many plants asking how MAINTelligence™ could help, the next step is proving its value. Steve Verity, who travelled from Australia for MainTrain 2026, agreed to help us quantify the business value of MAINTelligence™.
Together, we’ll measure the cost savings from reduced downtime, improved reliability, and longer parts and component life, giving plant leaders numbers to support their reliability investments.
More from our MainTrain 2026 booth
Consulting firms stopped by to explore offering MAINTelligence™ as part of the maintenance and reliability services they provide their clients. Representatives from other CMMS companies were interested in integrating with MAINTelligence™ to add its capabilities to their own systems.
We’re also grateful to Richard Stamper from PEMAC, the national non-profit association that organizes MainTrain, for introducing us to people who could benefit from what we offer. Our bilingual signage, brochures and team let us welcome attendees from Quebec, New Brunswick and other French-speaking communities in their preferred language.
John MacSween of DMSI with Richard Stamper of PEMAC, whose introductions helped us connect with attendees at MainTrain 2026.
Find out what MAINTelligence™ could do for your operation
Wondering what MAINTelligence™ could do for your site? If something in this MainTrain 2026 recap sounded familiar, from paper data sitting on a desk to parts that run out before a repair, book a 10-minute reliability strategy conversation. Bring your biggest concern, and we’ll show you where MAINTelligence™ could fit.
Frequently Asked Questions about MainTrain 2026
What is MainTrain?
MainTrain is PEMAC’s annual conference for maintenance and reliability professionals in Canada. It brings together reliability, maintenance, and operations teams, consultants, service providers, and technology companies for sessions, networking, and an exhibit hall.
When and where was MainTrain 2026?
MainTrain 2026 took place October 5 to 7 at the Marriott Montreal in Montreal, Quebec.
Where is MainTrain 2027?
MainTrain 2027 will take place in Vancouver, British Columbia. Check our events page for updates as details come out.
