Planning and scheduling – what are they?
Why planning and scheduling are very different functions, requiring different skills and knowledge and which take place at different times.
Scheduling – why is it so difficult?
A review of the conflicts that invariably arise when developing maintenance work schedules and the uncertainty inherent in estimating maintenance times.
Setting maintenance work priorities
This often controversial process requires close cooperation between Operations and Maintenance and a solid business process is essential.
Detailed planning – “thinking through” the job
This is the key to successful planning and is described in detail, with examples.
This is a guide to ensure that nothing is overlooked when work is being planned.
A daily work schedule evolves from a weekly or longer-term schedule and is the most important “working document” for the maintenance supervisor.
How is it possible to plan all maintenance work?
All maintenance work is, in fact, planned by someone, too often the tradesperson assigned the job. There is a better way.
The case for “standing work orders”
Often frowned upon, or greatly over-used, there is a logical and important role for standing work orders.
There needs to be a strong discipline in closing work orders to ensure that the backlog is accurate. Some maintenance software makes this diffieult.
How to follow sound database principles when establishing work order codes, to ensure that useful reporting is the result.
Fix the dreaded week scheduling meeting
This critical meeting can waste time and be ineffective unless there is a sound business process, the key to which is a well-managed maintenance backlog.
Scheduling – spread sheets or critical-path software
The pros and cons of spreadsheets vs critical path systems is explored.
Scheduling maintenance – a practical tool
MS Excel, with a couple of good add-ins, can be a powerful and easily-managed maintenance scheduling tool.
A key step in all work plans is to ensure that repaired equipment is thoroughly, and safely, checked and tested before it is handed back to Operations.