Alan Friedman – Zenco
Alan Friedman is the founder / CEO of Zenco. I specialize in vibration monitoring program audits and on-site vibration analysis training. I provide on-site vibration analysis training and mentoring. I’m also available for vibration monitoring product development support, wireless sensors, diagnostics, analytics etc. I have 30+ years experience in vibration monitoring and have trained thousands of students worldwide at ISO 18436-2 Cat 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Vibration program audits are based on the best selling book: Audit it. Improve it! Getting the most from your vibration monitoring program – by Alan Friedman. This book is a must read for anyone involved in vibration analysis, condition monitoring or condition based maintenance. Buy it on Amazon: Audit it Improve it
For 15 years, I visited 100’s of clients worldwide to help install and support vibration monitoring programs as a senior engineer at DLI Engineering (now Azima). This gave me deep insight into what is required to run a successful condition monitoring program. Connect to Alan on LinkedN:
While at DLI, I produced and taught Category I, II and III equivalent vibration analysis courses to hundreds of students worldwide (in English and Spanish) and I contributed in the development of DLI’s automated diagnostic system. Over the years, I have published a number of technical articles in a wide array of industry publications and I have presented my papers at trade shows.
I have been a senior instructor for the Mobius Institute providing vibration training to well over 1,000 students since 2007. I’ve trained students at ISO 18436-2 Category 1, 2, 3 and 4 in public and on-site courses conducted all over the world. I also trained many of Mobius trainers and created much of their training materials.
Contact me for on-site training, mentoring , consulting.
[email protected]
(se habla Español)
Email Zenco: [email protected]
(se habla Español)
I am an ISO 18436-2 Category IV Certified Vibration Analyst
Products
- Online ISO Category III Vibration Jan 12 - 16, 2025 $1,995.00
- Online ISO Category I Vibration Jan 21 - 24, 2025 $1,995.00
- Online ISO Category II Vibration Jan 27 - 31, 2025 $1,995.00
- ISO Category I Vibration Houston Apr 1 - 4, 2025 Envibe $2,295.00
- ISO Category II Vibration Houston April 7 - 11, 2025 $2,395.00
- ISO Category I Vibration Miami Apr 29 - May 2, 2025 Ludeca $2,295.00
- ISO Category II Vibration Miami May 5 - 9, 2025 Ludeca $2,395.00
- ISO Category III Vibration Sept 15 - 19, 2025 Houston $2,695.00
- ISO Category I Vibration Houston Sept 23 - 26, 2025 $2,295.00
- ISO Category II Vibration Houston Sept 29 - Oct 3, 2025 Envibe $2,395.00
Testimonials
On-site Training
My company hired Alan through a third party to teach an in house Level I class. As a Level IV analyst, I took it for recertification points and I figured if I got one good tidbit from the class it would be worth it. I wound up up taking over 4 pages of notes and only wish I had been able to take a class from Alan sooner. The information is not new, but the way he presents it and the approach he uses for vibration analysis makes it very easy to understand and is a great starting point for any Level I or a great refresher for a humbled Level IV like me.
Cat IV Training
Alan was my CAT IV teacher, and he was able to pass on in a very limited amount of time some substantial and complex concept to which I had not previously been exposed.
He has a very strong background and takes pride on following up on all questions raised during the class, irrespective of whether he can answer on the spot or if he needs to stay up the whole night to get an answer.
It was a real pleasure being his student and I recommend his courses to anyone who is involved in condition monitoring.
Cat IV Training
“Highly Recommended”
I have taken many courses as a vibration analyst and I am pleased to highly recommend Alan as a preferred training instructor. Although I am not an engineer, Alan was able to breakdown the complex problems and theories to give me a complete understanding of the material in the CAT IV training. He recognizes if your struggling and will work one on one with you as needed.
Cat IV Vibration Training
Mr. Friedman is an amazing instructor. His vast knowledge is derived from actual working experience and provides “usable” information, not just an explanation of foreign theories. Upon returning from the Cat IV review session, I immediately began to use that which I had learned to become a better and more confident analyst. Alan is also enthusiastic, which helps keep his students focused on subjects that would otherwise seem dry and monotonous. Furthermore, he keeps the class engaged and works individually with each person to ensure that no one gets left behind. Because of Alan, I feel that I learned and retained more knowledge from 4 days of instruction than I would have from several months of self study.
Cat IV Vibration Instruction
Alan taught me the Cat IV class before the exam. He has excellent real world knowledge of how to apply these fundamentals to machinery analysis.
His teaching cadence was great and clear. The topics were covered in a professional way that was not monotonous. I appreciate him taking the time to answer questions from all of the students.
Highly recommended trainer
I attended a Mobius Cat IV training course led by Alan. Alan delivered the training well, to time and without appearing the slightest bit flustered by any of the delegate’s questions. The atmosphere in the classroom was great and he was very patient. He responded well to student’s areas of weakness as we prepared for a five hour certification exam on the final day. Highly recommended as a trainer.
Capacitación en Mexico
Si tienen interes o necedidad de un curso de vibracion lo recomiedo ampliamente.
Tiene un basto conocimiento del tema y una muy buena técnica de capacitación.
No se arrepentirán.
Capacitacion en sitio en Mexico ExpertALERT
Excelente curso la información impartida resuelve todo tipo de dudas por mínima que esta sea, Ampliamente recomendado, te cambia la manera de ver el mundo de análisis de vibraciones y refuerza tus conocimientos.
Es una buena inversión el contar con cursos de esta calidad para llevar el monitoreo basado en condición correctamente en el lugar de trabajo. Muchas gracias.
Vibration analysis field experience
I attended Alan’s Category II Vibration Analysis class a few weeks ago. Alan’s experience in the field and practical know-how really shone through. I thought he very effectively blended the course material with insight into how to think through the kinds of situations that analysts will often face on the job. I think this is essential for analysts to truly be effective and successful. I would certainly recommend his class to others.
Complex problems made easy
I’ve had the pleasure of taking my CAT II vibration training with Alan and can say it was by far the most I have learned in my career as a vibration analyst. He was able to effectively communicate the standards we should meet as a CBM program and how we fit into the overall reliability of the facilities we work in. It was a great opportunity to take advantage of his years of experience and hear how he was able to take complex problems and questions and explain them in a way that anyone could understand. I’m thankful for the time and responsibility Alan and the Mobius Institute have taken to train reliability leaders around the world and recommend taking advantage of any opportunity to learn from them. I look forward to CAT III training with Alan and the Mobius team in the future.
Great instructor
Great instructor, class was very educational, looking forward to the next class
Informative and interesting
I recently attended a Category I Mobius class in the Dallas Fort Worth area of Texas. Alan was the Instructor. I am new to the vibration analysis and reliability sector and was not sure of what I was getting into. I can say that Alan made the class very informative and interesting. He explained things completely and answered questions without hesitation. I highly recommend him if you get the chance to attend a class. I am looking forward to signing up for Cat II when I can.
From the fundamentals to the advanced analyst
Alan is a “Boots on the Ground” analyst with real world field experience across many industries. He has a knack for teaching vibration analysis from the fundamentals to the advanced analyst. Alan has worked with many of the condition monitoring and analysis programs in the market today and can transition easily to what you’re employing. For me with 11 years vibration analysis experience, Alan put in extra time during breaks, lunches, and off the clock, to help in areas that I lacked experience and had some struggles. And if that isn’t enough, he’s a pretty cool guy too.
Knowledge that I will be able to apply to my job
I recently took Category III Vibration Analysis which was instructed by Alan. I was very pleased with the training, and I would recommend Alan as an instructor. Not only did I end the week prepared for the exam, but I also gained a lot of practical knowledge that I will be able to apply to my job. The difficult concepts covered in the class were easy to understand with the animations and the methods of teaching. Thanks for the training, and I will look to you for future vibration analysis training.
Very knowledgeable and clear instructor
Very knowledgeable and clear instructor. If considering for Machine Vibration Analysis training, I highly recommend.
Goes above and beyond
Alan was my CAT IV instructor, and I am grateful for his time and effort to ensure students grasp the training material. Alan goes above and beyond … thank you!
Great instructor!
Great instructor with excellent ideas to improve your vibration analysis skills. Thanks for your help Alan!!!
Alan es dueño de una gran experiencia en el campo del análisis vibracional
Me permito hacer de su conocimiento que conozco al Sr. Alan Friedman y me consta su responsabilidad y competencia en el trabajo, desempeñando principalmente el puesto de instructor del curso de Análisis Vibracional nivel IV de Mobius Institute Alan es dueño de una gran experiencia en el campo del análisis vibracional, siendo su participación como instructor realmente excelente. Por lo anterior, no tengo inconveniente ninguno en recomendarlo.
Agradeciendo de antemano la atención y facilidades que le puedan brindar. Autorizo al Sr. Alan Friedman a hacer uso de este certificado en la forma que más convenga a sus intereses.
His well-developed Spanish, along with his teaching skills and technical expertise make him an extremely valuable instructor
I had the chance to meet Alan recently during Category IV vibration analyst training. As my instructor Alan did an outstanding job covering all most significant subjects of the training and clarifying most complex concepts. His well-developed Spanish, along with his teaching skills and technical expertise make him an extremely valuable instructor and professional in the machinery diagnostic field. Because of his knowlege and remarcable experiance, I would highly recommend Alan for anyone how seeks a better understanding of vibration analysis and consulting of state of the art assets condition monitoring programs.
Alan is an excellent teacher!
Alan is an excellent teacher. I took the Category IV course that he taught in Orlando. He takes the time needed to help everyone out, and does a great job helping sift through course materials to prepare you for the test. Highly recommended as an instructor!
Best instructor I’ve met so far
one of best instructor that I met so far.
Mr Alan very patient to answer any questions and he never underestimate any question….
Mr.Alen has ability to make the complexities easy to be digested
SKF Solution Factory Monterrey, México
Gracias por el curso impartido Análisis de Vibraciones Nivel II en la Solution Factory Monterrey.
Muy buena información compartida con el equipo de SKF México.
Expert in vibration spectrum analysis
Alan is another expert in vibration spectrum analysis. His phone number/email is a valuable item when you have such vibration problem. He is also a good vibration training instructor.
He is also guru in vipassana.
Vibraciones Categoría IV
Tuve la oportunidad de tener como instructor de vibraciones Categoría IV a Alan Friedman.
Tiene muy buenos conocimientos de rotodinámica y dinámica de estructuras, utiliza ejemplos muy claros y cotidianos que facilitan el entendimiento de los alumnos, se esmera en comprender todas las dudas y ofrece respuestas claras en el momento o al día siguiente si es que requieren mayor análisis. El material que utiliza es de primera calidad.
Un gran fortaleza de Alan es su capacidad de generar empatia con las personas, eso posibilita la comunicación, facilita la interacción y el aprendizaje.
Alan tiene como idioma nativo el Ingles, pero entiende y habla bien el español.
Análisis de Vibraciones CAT-IV en Colombia
Alan fue mi instructor en el curso de Análisis de Vibraciones CAT-IV en Colombia. Las cualidades de enseñanza de Alan son muchas entre las que puedo destacar el énfasis que pone al explicar los temas que considera importantes de modo que no hayan puntos que no se trataron al momento de rendir el examen. También es destacable su disposición para que sus alumnos participen en la solución de temas complejos y compartan sus experiencias durante la clase. Finalmente, quiero resaltar su alta capacidad de transmisión de conocimientos en un idioma diferente a su lengua madre, en este caso español, al tratarse de un tema con alto contenido técnico.
Alan is one of the best in this field – IIot Wireless Sensors
Alan is an amazing teacher! He’s patient, knowledgeable and eager to teach. He doesn’t get tired to get down to the fundamentals until everyone gets it. Combined with his years of knowledge in vibration analysis and his openness to new ideas/technologies, Alan is one of the best in this field. Don’t think twice to hire him for your training needs to setup a predictive maintenance/vibration monitoring program at your organization.
Alan is awesome!
Alan is awesome! He is not just an expert in vibration analysis (and a very good one) but he is a great teacher and champion of the overall process of condition based maintenance in plants. I would highly recommend Alan for anyone looking to get an in-depth understanding of vibration analysis.
I recommend Alan both as vibration analysis and condition monitoring specialist and a teacher.
Alan extensive experience in the vibration analysis field and passion for teaching were key for me approving the Category II vibration analyst examination. He takes the time to ensure that all the students understand the concepts and key elements of vibration analysis and condition monitoring. Also, he provided extra examples and he adapted the way he explained based on students backgrounds and previous experience.
Receiving Category II training improved my knowledge and have helped me to perform my day to day activities in a better way. Alan is proficient in Spanish, he was able to explain some key concepts fluently. I recommend Alan both as vibration analysis and condition monitoring specialist and a teacher.
a professional and ethical demeanor
I recently attended a Cat III Vibration Analysis course Alan was teaching. He is exceptionally knowledgeable in each of the areas of Reliability we covered. Alan is a terrific instructor and has a very professional and ethical demeanor. It was a pleasure to meet him and I enjoyed the course. I would definitely recommend Alan anytime.
real world application
I have taken two Vibration classes from Alan and have found him to be knowledgeable in all areas of this involved topic. His grasp of theory and practical experience bring a multi-faceted approach to his teaching style. Class is relaxed with a focus on theory as well as real world application. I highly recommend Alan.
thoroughness, professionalism and knowledge
Just completed a cat 2 vibe class with Alan, I really appreciated his thoroughness, professionalism and knowledge of the subject matter. I would highly recommend Alan as an instructor, vibe tech or subject matter expert contracted out to visit your facility. Thank you Alan, the class was my most beneficial ever. If and when I take a cat 3 I’ll make sure you’re the instructor
Above and beyond
Alan Friedman taught a class I attended for CAT I vibration analysis in Seattle this past month. During this time, he went above and beyond to not only teach the criteria for the course, but also provide professional guidance for each of us individually. I was overly prepared for the certification exam, and feel confident knowing I can bring value back to my company. Through his dedication, I know I got the best out of my time in the course. Overall, Alan was a wonderful teacher and I had nothing but a wonderful experience in the class.
Excellent vibration training
I would like to thank Alan for the excellent vibration training of Cat II during the month of May 2019 to my engineers and craftsman! The students were able to to understand the vibration concepts and how they can be applied on their day-to-day job due to the simplicity that Alan was able to explain them during the training sections. Kudos to you!!
Easy to understand
Excellent instructor, very knowledgeable and makes class easy to understand.
Audit it. Improve it!
I have bought and used this book with great success during my time at Detour Gold. It helped our team win the 2018 Reliability Program of the Year. Recommend anyone serious about vibration analysis to get a copy and implement what it within it.
Cat 1 Clarios
Recently completed the Cat I class with Alan and it was a great experience. He was able to breakdown the material so we all understood and answer any questions thrown at him. The examples and animations were awesome and he even took time to review some of our equipment’s vibration data to help us understand the results and functionality of our software.
Cat 2 vibration
I had a great time in CAT II class and gained a lot of information and looking forward to using it. Thank you for your time and knowledge. Ken Straws
Real life experience
Alan presented the Cat I Vibration Analysis course by conveying his years of real life experience. He was able to ensure that people of varied range of skills would take away the required knowledge to progress as a CAT I tech.
Excellent instructor
Excellent instructor with a great deal of experience. I took Vibration Analysis Category II course in Knoxville, TN last October 2019 that was taught by Mr. Friedman. I truly enjoyed the course and learn a lot from him. I highly recommend his courses.
Kept the class interesting
Great trainer. Kept the class interesting with real-life examples of condition monitoring challenges we might face. Would recommend!
Cat 4 – Wonderful Training
it was wonderful training by Alan, whole course was delivered in very nice way. I successfully passed the Cat 4 Exam through all support and guidance. Thank you very much !!
Ability to simplify complex theories
I had an opportunity to attend advanced (Cat 4) vibration analysis course Alan, He has the art to simplify complex theories and convert them to very perceptible practices. He has the ability to knowledge easily and he was so generous to share his experience, expertise and lessons learned through his long journey on vibration domain
He did an outstanding job
Alan was my CAT III and CAT IV teacher. He is highly knowledgeable and he did an outstanding job in covering all the subjects of the training and clarifying most complex concepts in easy way to understand. He doesn’t get tired until the concepts are clear to everyone in the class. It was a real pleasure being his student and I recommend his courses to anyone who is involved in condition monitoring
His way of teaching is amazing
I had a pleasure to attend CATIV training course led by Alan. His way of teaching is amazing and absolutely understandable. I would highly recommend to look for opportunities to attend training courses led by Alan.
Practical and easy to understand
Excellent instructor, with practical and easy to understand presentation, and a great deal of experience. He shared a lot of real examples which might challenge us in condition monitoring. Would recommended!
Takes the time to explain
Very complete instructions, takes the time to explain anything you are concerned about. Very clear and to the point. Lastly, Alan is extremely knowledgeable and experienced in what he teaches, not just the “because the book says so “ type.
I felt prepared for the examination
Alan was my instructor for Cat. 3 Vibration training. He displayed great knowledge of the subject, was effective in explaining the material, and answered all questions that I had. I felt prepared for the examination and highly recommend him as an instructor.
Excellent instructor
Excellent instructor with a great deal of experience. I took Vibration Analysis Category II course in Knoxville, TN last October 2019 that was taught by Mr. Friedman. I truly enjoyed the course and learn a lot from him. I highly recommend his courses.
Zenco Cat 1
I enjoyed your training program very much. It really helped bring all of the principles together that I have been seeing and learning about over the last three months. It also brough some new information and techniques that will make me a better technician and analyst. I am looking forward to CAT 2!
You are too good!
Must say, more than the certification, the quality of training that you have given is too good. It is more useful to consultants like me. Also the training is global, rather than being local to a certain region. I urge all the people working in the CBM, Vibrations area to take this kind of training at least once and if possible early in their career.
You are too good!
Thanks for everything
This class is one of the best!
Alan is one of the greatest instructors that I’ve gone through training with.
It’s rare…
I just attended the CAT I class and can say it exceeded my expectations. There are a lot of vibration experts but it’s rare to have an expert (like Alan) who can convey the information in a way that makes it easier to learn and immediately apply, I recommend anyone who is looking to get certified in vibration to go through ZENCO. Feel free to contact me if you would like to know more about my experience. Thank you Alan!
Industry 4.0
I recently had the opportunity to attend the online course ISO Vibration Analysis Category III with Alan Friedman. He is undoubtedly a gifted trainer who can claim not only extensive experience in the field but also the utmost competence in teaching-learning communication. While the former is perhaps no surprise for a seasoned reliability professional, the latter is far rarer among discipline experts. Alan´s courses are strikingly different (read better) from anything you might have attended before!
He presented us with complex theories, such as reliability engineering, machinery failures, overall equipment effectiveness, and signal processes, in a crystal-clear and vivid manner, always backing up our physical intuition with examples from everyday life. The training method alone was a memorable and worthwhile experience for me.
In addition, Alan possesses the ability to convey his knowledge with a positive and genuinely sympathetic human approach. This makes people feel comfortable even when asking seemingly irrelevant or “stupid” questions. He reported several case histories showing that in the end Reliability, Safety, Quality, and Leadership are all interconnected and parts of a company’s cultural DNA.
I appreciated Alan’s attitude of caring about details but always looking at the big picture. This has really resonated with me and will stick with me, even long after I have forgotten all the other technical stuff.
In conclusion I strongly recommend everyone who wants to take on the challenge of maintenance 4.0 strategies (predictive, precision, and proactive) to take Alan´s classes or to contact him for setting up their asset management program in the most profitable and safest way.
Cat 3 Virtual Course
The course covers a wide range of topics, and initially some of the concepts can be hard to visualize, but Alan did a fantastic job of presenting and explaining them.
His years of experience proved invaluable in a learning environment as he had a tangible, real world example for almost every topic we covered.
Would highly recommend Zenco’s vibration course to anyone interested in gaining their CAT accreditations.
Treats all questions equally
I had the pleasure of attending Alan’s CAT I certification course for Vibration Analysis. Most of the time, when one hears that an “expert” is teaching subject matter pertaining to the field that they have been a part of for 30 years, it is easy to be skeptical. Often times, that individual is so well-versed that they can not properly relay the material. Alan, however, does not fit this mold. He has the fantastic ability to take his mastery of the field and relay it to his audience, regardless of their knowledge on the matter.
Rather than bombarding his clients with statistics, data, and terminology, he takes them through a very succinct and logical process of understanding what their goals are, proper implementation of vibration technology, and processes that can be achieved for continuous improvement. He is impressively personable, has a very enigmatic personality, and treats all questions equally. There truly never are any “dumb” questions when the instructor knows how important it is for his clients to understand every aspect possible of the program.
Alan balanced his time between adequately traversing his subject matter while also reviewing previous material to keep everything fresh and always present. He truly is gifted with relaying the sometimes difficult processes into real-world situations (e.g. Preventive Maintenance in one’s life is changing a car’s oil on a routine basis, not according to the oil’s condition or oil analysis), and always takes the time to ensure that nobody is left behind.
I highly recommend Alan for any persons seeking to implement an effective Vibration Analysis program and/or seeking certification in the subject. He is one of those people that you come across in life who is honestly passionate about his field and has honed his skill set to sharing his passion with others. Your investment would be well-spent and both your system and your personnel would be better because of it.
Gracias Alan
100% recommend this course. Alan is an excellent instructor. I just finished CAT 1 Totally worth it.”
Recomiendo Este curso 100%, Alan es un instructor excelente. Ya finalicé el CAT 1 y es totalmente valiosa la información. Gracias Alan
You CAN teach old dogs new tricks!
After many years outside of the reliability field I had decided to once again become a ln ISO certified vibration analyst. I’ve been out of the reliability industry for approximately 5 years and the training as well as the hospitality of EnVibe, Inc. was absolutely magnificent. There is an old saying that you can’t teach old dogs new tricks. I find this saying to be irrelevant after taking this course. This training allowed me to see things with an entirely different perspective to the common CBM based mindset. I’m once again an ISO 18436-2 certified category 1 analyst thanks to the knowledge, information and training provided by EnVibe, Inc. and Alan of Zenco. I cannot thank Tom Ritter and EnVibe, Inc. for all the for providing and proctoring a greatly informational course. Alan was not only able to teach but convey valuable information at its most rudimentary form for those whom have not been in the industry. I wholeheartedly recommend the information provided within this course for those whom are wanting an introduction, as well as those looking forward to re-certifying within the industry. I feel that I have left this course with knowledge beyond that of a conventional Category 1 analyst and a thirst to furthering my knowledge and expertise later in the year.
most prolific vibration analysis instructor
Alan Friedman, is the most prolific vibration analysis instructor I have ever encountered in my 40 years of experience. The beauty of Alan’s training is that it enables the student to learn the fundamental elements of vibration analysis whereby lessons learned in the classroom can be effectively applied to real-world, field applications. Trust me, without this training, it will take YEARS to learn the “Hard Way.”