The ICEFA is a long-running conference series which brings together world-class researchers, users and specialists involved in all aspects of failure analysis and prevention from the fields of mechanical, manufacturing, aeronautical, civil, chemical, corrosion and design engineering. For the ninth event we are very excited to be working for the first time with the Chinese Failure Analysis Institution and with Co-Chair, Professor Zheng-Guo Yang, who has kindly offered to host the conference at Fudan University in Shanghai.