What Is Performance-Based Maintenance Planning and Scheduling?

Businesses in different industries have various machines and other equipment to carry out their operations. For large-scale manufacturing businesses, it would include production plants and other vital machinery. Conversely, for small and medium enterprises, it could be something nominal like a delivery truck.

Either way, these machinery and equipment play a critical role in businesses’ day-to-day operations. A slight issue can slow down production, leading to a decline in revenue. So, performance-based maintenance planning and scheduling are more than necessary to keep things up and running.

We’ll give you an extensive idea of what maintenance planning and scheduling are all about. This guide will explain what both these terms mean and the difference between both processes. Furthermore, we’ll also cover ways to enhance the process of maintenance planning and scheduling.

Maintenance Planning: Brief Overview

Maintenance planning includes a step-by-step process, which allows you to identify the assets or equipment that are required to undergo maintenance. It focuses on running a reliability assessment and finding the due date for a maintenance check on equipment. Moreover, it updates you about whether there are issues to be fixed or not.

Another benefit of using maintenance planning is that it helps you identify your maintenance needs for your resources such as machines and equipment parts. It is the best way to assess the condition of the machinery being used. It also allows you to prevent major and minor failures.

During the planning phase, there are a lot of factors that need to be considered. It can be overwhelming for the planners as the process can take a lot of time especially when it comes to maintenance. Therefore, it is important to understand the process of the workflow to define the priorities. 

Also, it’s important to divide the labor and make a workflow that offers a clear image of the maintenance process and required tasks. Then, the planner will have all the relevant information necessary to make the right decisions, You can use a weekly planner like Forzeit to make your planning much easier.

Maintenance Scheduling: Brief Overview

Now that you know what maintenance planning is all about, let’s understand what a maintenance schedule is. It refers to the process of coming up with a plan and communicating all activities that the maintenance department carries out. Doing so will ensure that the machines are in proper condition.

Maintenance scheduling also allows the person responsible for maintenance management to have more control over the finances.

For instance, if the scheduling and planning are on time, it can reduce unexpected expenses because of equipment failure. This type of planning is also known as preventive maintenance.

Ways to Enhance the Process for Maintenance Planning and Scheduling

Statistics show that major manufacturers lose around one trillion dollars due to issues with machinery. It shows how industrial maintenance is more than important for businesses. Here are a few ways you can improve and optimize maintenance planning and scheduling.

Hire Someone for Planning and Scheduling

Burdening your fleet manager with maintenance planning and scheduling is not a good idea. They wouldn’t be able to pay attention to their core tasks, leading to a decline in productivity.

Therefore, it is better to hire a manager whose sole responsible is plant maintenance. They would be able to handle all the things more efficiently. It will ensure that the maintenance of all the assets and equipment in the facility takes place on time.

Take Advantage of Software

The rapid technological advancements make it easy for you to plan and schedule regular maintenance for your equipment. You don’t have to go through the hassle of maintaining journals to record everything since you’ll have everything available with a click.

Furthermore, it can streamline the process of scheduling and planning. You can plan the tasks according to their level of priority and ensure everything is completed on time. Also, it makes it easy for you to track the maintenance metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs) for your equipment.

Plan the Maintenance When the Workload Is Relatively Less

If you plan and schedule the maintenance of the plant equipment when there is high demand, then it would have an impact on production. It can also lead to a decrease in the productivity of your businesses. Therefore, it is important for you to plan and schedule your maintenance during the off-season.

Doing maintenance activities during the off-season will ensure that there is no disturbance with the business operations. The maintenance team can complete the tasks during lean operations.

Align Maintenance Goals with Business Goals

Aligning both the maintenance and the business goals will help your business enhance the process. You can also provide clear training and set SOPs for your workforce. Below are some ways to help you align your maintenance and business goals:

  • Have a clear idea about your organization’s goals.
  • Set the maintenance KPIs and metrics.
  • Connect the maintenance metrics and KPIs with your business goals.
  • Ensure that you schedule maintenance activities to hit your targets.

How Are Maintenance Planning and Scheduling Different?

When we talk about scheduling, it is an immediate task that the organization has to take care of. The schedulers need to be aware of the date, place, resources, and other things available. On the other hand, you don’t have to set a date and time for tasks when it comes to maintenance planning.

The concept of maintenance planning is to manage a certain task within a given time frame be it a day, week, month, etc. After that, the planner will define what needs to be done and how.

An important thing to note is that planning and scheduling are related. Both ensure that machines are in proper working condition, leading to better production quality. Moreover, it prevents major repairs and breakdowns that can cost significant money.

Performance-Based Maintenance Planning and Scheduling: Takeaway

The last thing you need is to stop the production due to faulty machines or equipment. It will not only impact the business revenue but can also lead to costly expenditures. Therefore, it is essential to carry out performance-based maintenance planning and scheduling from time to time.

Also, having clear goals for your business operation and aligning them with your maintenance goals are vital. It will be easy for you to make decisions regarding maintenance planning and scheduling. With proper execution, you can enjoy the perks of maintenance planning and scheduling.

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