The NCM Section provides CERN-wide support to feasibility studies, development and qualification of innovative solutions to improve robustness and cost effectiveness of the magnets and ancillary systems.
These studies cover a wide range of subjects, with a relevant portion on the magnet design, both on the magnetic and mechanical aspects, as well as the integration on the accelerators complexes and experimental areas.

Magnets and component parts are continuously being renovated and constructed, from a full construction of a new magnet (from a new or existing design) to a magnet renovation with new or refurbished spare parts.
This requires a procurement effort from one side, assuring the quality and cost effectiveness of magnets and component parts manufactured by external companies, together with an internal installed capacity to manufacture spare parts or entire magnets, keeping the same high quality and cost effectiveness standards.
Besides the magnets and its components, the necessary tools for the NCM activities also have a similar approach, with the procurement of standard tools and the in-house development and production of specific auxiliary tools.

Based on a risk assessment analysis, regular planning and scheduling of preventive maintenance routine actions are ensured to keep the normal conducting magnets running smoothly, maximizing the prevention of unexpected failures with costly unplanned downtime, both monetary and physics time wise.
Preventive maintenance activities are the base scope of the workshop facilities, but also includes interventions on the accelerators complexes and experimental areas during scheduled stoppage times.

The NCM Section has a prevention team in readiness, during the regular operation of the CERN accelerators complexes and experimental areas, for any necessary emergency intervention.
Together with the remaining resources, this effort falls into the reactive maintenance scope that deals with unexpected breakdowns and faulty alarms, with the objective to reduce the physics downtime.

The NCM Section has develop and maintains an advanced Quality Assurance System, assuring the continuous improvement of the work processes and efficiency, while guaranteeing the documentation standardisation and the NCM activities crucial tracing.
Dedicated IT solutions have been developed to enforce the Quality Assurance System.
These tools are maintained, improved and extended when necessary to cover all the aspects of the NCM activities.
This system is the base for the preservation and development of core knowledge in normal conducting and permanent magnets technologies and in radiation resistant magnets.