Planning and Scheduling made easy with Work Order Analysis

Two critical functions in your maintenance program include planning and scheduling. Planning is like the ‘what’ and the ‘how’ of maintenance activities, while scheduling is the ‘who’ and the ‘when.’ Planning usually takes place before scheduling and involves aspects such as obtaining the right spare parts, skills, etc. In contrast, scheduling takes care of getting the work done by the right people at the right time. Work order analysis can provide insight into improving your planning and scheduling.

Improving efficiency of planning and scheduling

1. First things first: Necessary planning and scheduling include a documented definition of a planned job, such as a job plan, spare parts, tools, the worker’s qualifications, and any special permits required. Understanding requirements early on can help pave the way for further scheduling processes, as much time would not be wasted over specific areas. Building a checklist, in the beginning, goes a long way!

2. Effective scheduling: This is where the bulk of the process lies. You can plan your strategies with much precision, but it all comes down to how scheduling is managed. A fair scheduling process involves one where there is an established work priority system, room for emergencies, and a labor availability list. With priorities, preventive maintenance should be a high priority. However, there are many other factors to consider when scheduling orders, these three must-haves in any schedule.

3. Using templates: Templates are often a great way to keep work orders on track and help produce a planned breakdown work order. Research suggests that unplanned and unscheduled work orders usually take up most of the breakdown work orders. Templates contain all intended information about the requirements and parts for a certain kind of equipment, which offloads heavy-duty work when it comes to planning. Instead, using templates can help you focus on improvement rather than spending time planning orders.

Building your way to success

Overall, using a software system where you can input all your historical work order data from planning and scheduling can help you determine areas of improvement, priorities, and steps in the right direction. Using pre-built templates can help you identify the requirements for maintenance processes and ease the planning and scheduling process. To learn more about how NRX Work Order Analysis can help you improve planning and scheduling, click on one of our resources below, or book a demo with us to help you plan and organize processes more effectively.