Formal Maintenance Work Order Planning and Scheduling

SOMAX offers a robust Work Order Planning and Scheduling module under the Left Main Menu. To access the module, from the main left menu, select Maintenance, then Work Orders, then Planning. This module allows the user to Create a Plan for Work Orders, Lock the Plan, Schedule the Planned Work Orders and to add any Break-in Work Orders to the Plan.

For more information about the module itself, see About the Formal Planning Module.

NOTE: This feature is for enterprise customers only.

What is Planning

Maintenance planning can be defined as an end-to-end process that identifies and addresses any possible issues ahead of time. This involves identifying the parts and tools necessary for jobs and making sure they're available and laid out in the appropriate areas, having  instructions on how to complete a job, and determining what is necessary and gathering the necessary parts and/or tools before a job is assigned. Maintenance planning also includes tasks related to parts like:

1.    Handling Stock parts
2.    Ordering non-stock parts
3.    Staging parts
4.    Managing breakdowns 
5.    Allocating Resources Equipment and Personnel

Maintenance planning defines the How are we doing the work, Why are we doing the work and What work are we doing.  This means specifying what work needs to be done with what materials, tools and equipment; why a particular action was chosen (why a valve is being replaced instead of a valve seat); and how the work should be completed.

What is Scheduling

Maintenance scheduling refers to the timing of planned work, when the work should be done and who should perform it. It offers details of "when" and "who." Scheduling is meant to:

1.    Schedule the maximum amount of work with the available resources
2.    Schedule according to the highest priority work orders
3.    Schedule preventive maintenance jobs to be done on Time
4.    Maximize the use of internal resources by effectively using internal labor
5.    Minimize the amount of Break-in work

Planning and Scheduling Implementation

When Planning and Scheduling are implemented and maintained together they will have a significant benefit on multiple areas.

1. Controlling and budgeting manpower requirements and other resources 
2. Reduction in Unscheduled Asset Downtime
3. Reduction in unnecessary Stock Items (Keep Maximums to lowest levels)
4. Improved Safety. Planned work is safer than Unplanned or Emergency work