A benchmark is organised to quantify the variability relative to structure dynamicscomputations. The chosen demonstrator is a pump in service in thermal central units, whichis an engineered system with not well-known parameters, considered in its workenvironment. The blind modal characterisation of the separate pump components shows a5%–12% variability on eigenfrequency values and a less than 15% frequency error incomparison with experimental values. The numerical-experimental MAC numbers reach 0.7 atthe maximum, even after updating. An example of modal results on the pump assembly fixedis presented, which shows a larger discrepancy with measurement values, essentially due tothe modelling of the interfaces and boundary condition, and to the possible simplificationof the main components F.E. models to reduce their size. Though a significant frequencyerror, the first overall modes are correctly identified. If this tendency can be confirmedfrom all the participants’ results, the conclusion to be drawn is that, if the predictivecapability of F.E. models to represent the dynamical behaviour of sub-structures issatisfactory, the one relative to structures that are built-up of several components doesnot allow their confident use. Additional information issued from measurements is neededto improve their accuracy.