4 Key Points Planning with Coating Contractors for Seasonal Shutdown
4 Key Points Planning with Coating Contractors for Seasonal Shutdown
Most Dairy Processing plants have an internal plan in place for shutdown periods, but often overlook the importance of their contractor relationship in the lead up process. When a contractor’s plan is static, and changes inevitably happen, success is jeopardised because jobs get rushed, quality levels drop, and completion targets get missed. Having an established communication system in place for your coatings maintenance is vital to not just getting everything completed, but also crucial to quality control.
Planning needs to Start 3-4 Months Before Shutdown Starts
Jobs need to be identified, scoped, and quantified early in the piece so that shutdown planners have a clear mandate around what will be completed. They are co-ordinating dozens of contractors into a fixed period of production shutdown, so quantifying methods and timeframes will be extremely valuable. With coatings maintenance, this means that this is completed 3-4 months before shutdown for Identified Jobs.
What about the unexpected?
Making sure you have a solid process in place to complete Added Jobs (which are often recognized between submitting your initial job schedule and the start date, or during the actual works program) is imperative. From previous experience, 15-40% extra work needs to be completed in the same period, so making sure you have processes to complete all to the same quality standard is vital. Time allowance for this needs to be made within the initial plan.
Drill the contractors early
Planning and training to ensure everyone is familiar with the scope and site procedures is great way to acclimatise the team… even if they’ve been working on site for years. This should include “dry runs” through Red-lines and Air Locks, refreshing themselves on what can and cannot be bought into different hygiene areas. Understanding Permit to Work and other procedures can be discussed at this point and training done so these aren’t overlooked when shutdown starts.
Familiarise with the people
Understanding who is involved is as important as understanding what works are required. There are many factors in a dairy plant and many people will be connected in a certain area like the coating team on ground, Operations teams, Dairy maintenance manager, Health and Safety officer and other trades. Knowing who will be in the area of works and who is responsible is Essential for efficiency and safety at the planning stage.
