Maintenance Scheduling: What it is and Why it is Important!

Maintenance Scheduling

Maintenance scheduling is the process of selecting, prioritizing, coordinating, and communicating when work takes place and who is assigned to do it.

Developing maintenance work schedules is an industry proven best practice. All asset intensive operations should do it, and there is a big payoff too.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 schedules may be thought of as falling into three major categories: event schedules, work-specific schedules, and support schedules.

Maintenance Event Schedules

Maintenance event schedules describe major facility activities in detail and pinpoint the month and day(s) during which they occur. Examples might include capital projects, major shutdowns, training days, product trials, etc. These schedules are generally produced using MS Outlook. Schedules in this category include:PHVsIGNsYXNzPSJmYS11bCIgc3R5bGU9Im1hcmdpbi1sZWZ0OjEuNWVtIWltcG9ydGFudDsiPgogICAgPGxpPjxzcGFuIGNsYXNzPSJmYS1saSIgc3R5bGU9ImZvbnQtc2l6ZToxM3B4OyI+PGkgY2xhc3M9ImZhcyBmYS1jaXJjbGUiPjwvaT48L3NwYW4+MTItTW9udGggU2NoZWR1bGU8L2xpPgogICAgPGxpPjxzcGFuIGNsYXNzPSJmYS1saSIgc3R5bGU9ImZvbnQtc2l6ZToxM3B4OyI+PGkgY2xhc3M9ImZhcyBmYS1jaXJjbGUiPjwvaT48L3NwYW4+OC1XZWVrIFNjaGVkdWxlPC9saT4KPC91bD4=

Maintenance Work Schedules

Maintenance work schedules define specific work orders accomplished over a short period of time, usually expressed in days or a week’s time. Examples include work for tomorrow or next week or work for a specific shutdown event. These schedules generally contain work performed by Maintenance, Operations, and Contractors. These work schedules are produced using the EAM/CMMS and include: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

Maintenance Support Schedules

Maintenance support schedules provide support information for other scheduling processes. Examples include:PHVsIGNsYXNzPSJmYS11bCIgc3R5bGU9Im1hcmdpbi1sZWZ0OjEuNWVtIWltcG9ydGFudDsiPgogICAgPGxpPjxzcGFuIGNsYXNzPSJmYS1saSIgc3R5bGU9ImZvbnQtc2l6ZToxM3B4OyI+PGkgY2xhc3M9ImZhcyBmYS1jaXJjbGUiPjwvaT48L3NwYW4+UmVzb3VyY2UgQXZhaWxhYmlsaXR5IFNjaGVkdWxlPC9saT4KICAgIDxsaT48c3BhbiBjbGFzcz0iZmEtbGkiIHN0eWxlPSJmb250LXNpemU6MTNweDsiPjxpIGNsYXNzPSJmYXMgZmEtY2lyY2xlIj48L2k+PC9zcGFuPkVxdWlwbWVudCBTY2hlZHVsZXM8L2xpPgo8L3VsPg==

Maintenance Scheduling Strategy

Maintenance scheduling is a process of matching work priorities and resource availability. The maintenance scheduling process is designed to ensure that the correct work is performed at the correct time with the correct available resources. To be effective, the maintenance scheduling process must: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

Maintenance Scheduling Responsibilities

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

Maintenance Scheduling Requirements

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Check out our examples of a weekly and daily maintenance schedule. Then contact us so we can get started today improving the utilization of your maintenance resources.

We have been helping organizations develop industry-accepted asset management business processes since 1997. If you need help with yours, contact us @ info@swainsmith.com.

What will you achieve with Synergy™

Enterprise asset management gives organizations a strategic way to increase uptime, improve performance, and reduce costs. Is your organization ready to take the next step with its assets?

Call 828-215-9471 or email us to get started today.

Get Proven EAM Tactics delivered to your inbox.