A plant shutdown is a complex process that is needed for performing major maintenance activities, but it can be a stressful time for all involved. However, the benefits include improvements in processes and equipment that will be a payoff for the rest of the year. It’s an initiative that relies heavily on the efforts of engineering, maintenance, purchasing and project teams.
Planning Your Plant Shutdown is Hard Work
Such a huge task requires clear objectives, a strong internal team, careful planning for all phases, attention to detail, effective communications, good project management, and dedicated outside suppliers. You will have a unique window of opportunity where your facility can be significantly improved to further enhance your business. At the end of the day, a tight execution of all the tasks, within the available timeframe, will bring you and your company great success.
Holiday shutdowns require careful planning
What Challenges Can Occur?
You have done all the planning and have a great team. Everything should run smoothly, but things can happen.
For example:
- After starting, you discover additional, unplanned work is required
- A planned solution does not solve the problem as you had expected
- Your team discovers a mistake that sets back the project timeline
- Required materials arrive at your site later than expected
- Key team member(s) become sick during the shutdown
- Last minute project changes throw your overall schedule off track
There are many “opportunities” for new problems to occur.
Outside vendors can help
Time Is Your Most Valuable Resource
You can’t borrow or buy more time. So, you must manage this resource carefully to maximize your results. One way to do this is through the use of outside contractors to manage specific parts of your plant shutdown plan. But, you don’t want to add any unneeded complexity to your overall project management plan. Select reliable and knowledgeable outside vendors and contractors to help ease your work load. For your floor coating projects, Protective Industrial Polymers offers SingleSource which is a turnkey project management program that covers every step from start to finish. These types of turnkey programs can make your holiday shutdown less stressful and more productive.
What Has Been Your Experience With Plant Shutdowns?
Share your story with us in the comments section below. We would love to hear from you!
Do You Have A Shutdown Project On the Horizon?
You don’t have to do this alone! Protective Industrial Polymers can help. Download our latest whitepaper and case study “Industrial Flooring Projects & Holiday Plant Shutdowns” to learn more!
Industrial Polymers at 866-361-3331.