I have spent 47 years on board ships working with all kinds of technical systems , and the maintenance of same. The ships were everything from cargo / tankers to modern high tech cruise ships.

During these years I have learned a few things that specialized technicians and engineers from the best repair companies, engine manufacturers, electronic systems manufacturers and more, only have basic knowledge of. How can I make such statement? The manufacturer is the one who made the Engines / machines/equipments/programs or the electronic components you say. You are right, but there is one thing they cannot do.

They cannot be there all the time and see how their equipment / systems produced, work over long periods of time and are tested with the many real time disturbances, like vibration, rolling, heat, humidity and many other things which shortens the life span of such equipment if not properly maintained.

I HAVE EXPERIANCED THIS, Year after year, under different environments, and influenced by many other conditions then in laboratory testing. Laboratory testing is mostly under the best condition, and only a "real life" on board test can tell you the weakness and the strength of this equipment. It is the different between theory and practice, and we all know that this is never one and the same. I have learned that the same equipment works totally different under different circumstances and influences, and even different from ship to ship. This is like life experience. It cannot be taught at any school, you can only learn it from experience, and this is why it is so valuable.