There are basically five areas that if addressed properly will result in a well-planned work order:
1) The Right People — This focuses on the correct skills required for the scope of work as well as how many and how long (labor estimates) it will take to complete.
2) The Right Place — You should have an accurate identification of the process, equipment and location to reduce travel, investigation and setup times.
3) The Right Time – This should include windows of opportunity to gain access, along with operations’ expectation of starting or completing the work. This will assist the scheduling process.
4) The Right Parts, Tools and Equipment – All repair parts should be identified, ordered and on-hand before scheduling. Arrangements are made for additional specialty tools and equipment.
5) The Specifications, Permits, Hazards, Work Instructions and/or Appropriate Documentation — These should be included as part of any work package.
If these five elements are addressed with sufficient detail, the opportunity for the work to be completed within the scheduled window with minimal delays and waits will be greatly increased.
Tim Kister is a well-recognized leader in the field of planning and scheduling. A dedicated educator, Tim has facilitated more than 100 workshops and seminars focused on maintenance management and planning and scheduling. He has co-authored the book, “Maintenance Planning and Scheduling Handbook: Streamlining Your Organization for a Lean Environment.” As a planning and scheduling expert for Life Cycle Engineering (LCE), Tim helps clients recognize opportunities for improvement that enable rapid optimization of business processes and long-term sustainability. You can reach Tim at tkister@LCE.com.
