On June 23, 2022, International Elevator and Equipment, Inc. (IEE) and De La Salle University Manila, Mechanical Engineering Society held a webinar entitled "Skill up with Elevators: Guide in Building Operations."

The webinar was spearheaded by De La Salle University (DLSU) Manila - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering Department under Mr. Aristotle T. Ubando, Ph.D., and Mr. Alvin Daniel M. Dimla, President of the Mechanical Engineering Society.

Mr. Katsunori Ushiku, IEE President, started the webinar session by welcoming the participants. He thanked the DLSU Manila faculty and then introduced to the students the world of elevator engineering, which he believed would be very relevant to their chosen careers. Thereafter, Engr. Jippy D. Abdukahil, the webinar speaker who is Supervisor II of the Elevator & Escalator Engineering Department of IEE, conducted the webinar proper. Engineer Jippy has been with IEE for a decade and has the relevant amount of professional experience in technical skills and Engineering supervision.

Engineer Jippy highlighted that Mitsubishi Electric's elevator & escalator products are designed to comply with the relevant codes and regulations with particular and utmost concern on its safety features.

After the presentation, Mr. Wilfredo C. Aquino, Senior Manager who is in charge of Elevator and Escalator Sales Department together with Engr. Jippy opened up the question and answer (Q & A) portion and responded to each question raised by the participants. The audience had inquiries, of which some were quite interesting and imaginative. This gave the forum a much lighter moment and everyone had a fun discussion.

The common questions that were asked were about safety, maintenance, modernization, and innovation. Other relevant Q & A focused on the innovation of elevator systems through the years and it was explained that innovation plays an important role in setting the trend to further improve the system.

Since elevators get older through years of operation, the equipment's efficiency and reliability are diminishing. Manufacturers are finding ways to innovate not only on the product design but also technological advances such as remote maintenance capabilities via the internet.

Moreover, the introduction of the Machine Roomless (MRL) type of elevator in the last decade was a complete game-changer and made the hydraulic-powered elevator system obsolete. And with the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, manufacturers have introduced innovations to eliminate or reduce the need for physical contact when registering elevator calls through Quick Response (QR)-based call registration.

The webinar concluded in the closing remarks from IEE's Vice President for Air Conditioning & Diesel Generator Division, Engr. Melecio B. Vicencio, himself an alumnus of the DLSU Department of Mechanical Engineering. He thanked everyone for participating in the webinar and has enjoined future engineers to consider a career in IEE.