A maintenance planner's job is a crucial part of any successful maintenance and reliability program. Maintenance planners have a lead role in ensuring that all equipment and machinery is properly maintained, repaired, and, if necessary, replaced in a timely manner.
Ideally, they must have an in-depth understanding of the equipment they are working with, as well as the ability to plan ahead and anticipate potential problems.
By taking a proactive approach to maintenance planning, these professionals can help reduce downtime and ensure that operations run smoothly.
Table of Contents:
- What Does a Maintenance Planner Do?
- The Benefits of Being a Maintenance Planner
- The Drawbacks of Being a Maintenance Planner
- How to Become a Maintenance Planner
- What the Future Holds for Maintenance Planners
- FAQs in Relation to What Is a Maintenance Planner Job Description
- Conclusion
What Does a Maintenance Planner Do?
Maintenance planners are an essential part of any organization’s maintenance and reliability team. Their job is to develop, implement, and manage the corrective plans, and, often, the preventive maintenance plans that keep production assets running smoothly.
A maintenance planner is responsible for ensuring that all equipment in a facility is proactively maintained and repaired when needed.
This includes developing preventive maintenance schedules, ensuring inspections of equipment for signs of wear or damage, ordering advance parts and supplies as needed, scheduling repairs or replacements when necessary, monitoring inventory levels of spare parts and tools used in the repair process for kitting, tracking costs associated with repairs or replacements, understanding repetitive problems related to machinery breakdowns or malfunctions, coordinating with outside vendors for specialized services such as welding or machining operations on site if required by certain jobs.
The main goal of a Maintenance Planner is to ensure that all production processes run efficiently without interruption due to malfunctioning machinery from a proactive work execution perspective.
To do this, they should be knowledgeable about the machines being used in their facility so they can accurately plan corrective maintenance activities in a cost-effective manner. Part of the function is to anticipate avoidable delays in materials, information, prioritization, or equipment access.
They must also have excellent communication skills so they can effectively communicate with other members of the maintenance and operations team as well as outside vendors who may need to provide additional services during repair projects.
Additionally, it's important for them to stay up-to-date on industry trends so they can recommend new technologies which could improve efficiency within their organization's processes, such as analytical approaches or better asset condition monitoring.
Overall a Maintenance Planner plays an integral role in keeping production running smoothly at any given facility by providing comprehensive planning solutions which help reduce downtime caused by machine failure while also helping maintain cost control over materials and labor expenses associated with maintaining equipment throughout its lifespan.
The Benefits of Being a Maintenance Planner
When it comes to keeping assets safe and operational, maintenance planners play a vital role.
As a maintenance planner, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that your work is helping to keep people safe and ensure that essential systems are well-maintained. Recognize that reliability and safety go hand-in-hand.
In addition to providing an important service, there are many other benefits associated with being a maintenance planner.
Here are just some of them:
"1. Job Security – Maintenance Planning Is an In-Demand Profession That Offers Job Security for Those Who Excel at Their Craft."
With more organizations relying on technology than ever before, skilled professionals like yourself can rest assured knowing they’ll always be in demand.
"2. Good Pay – Maintenance Planners Typically Enjoy Good Pay for Their Expertise and Hard Work."
The average salary for this position ranges from $60K - $90K per year or more, depending on experience level and location.
Additionally, many employers offer bonuses or incentives based on performance or length of service, which can add even more value to your compensation package!
3. Cutting Edge Technology – As a Maintenance Planner, You’ll Often Get the Opportunity to Work with Cutting Edge Technology, Such as Predictive Analytics Software or Automated Scheduling Tools Designed Specifically for Asset Management Purposes.
This type of advanced technology allows you to stay ahead of potential problems while optimizing resources so operations run smoothly and efficiently without interruption due to equipment failure or breakdowns caused by a lack of planned and proactive care.
4. Professional Development Opportunities – Being Part of the Team Responsible for Maintaining Critical Infrastructure Gives You Access to Training Opportunities Not Available Elsewhere Within the Organization.
You’ll gain valuable knowledge about best practices related directly to your field as well as soft skills such as communication techniques which will help make you even better at what you do!
"5. A Sense of Accomplishment – At the End of Each Day, When All Tasks Have Been Completed Successfully, It Feels Great Knowing That Your Efforts Were Instrumental in Ensuring Safety Standards Were Met While Also Saving Time & Money Through Efficient Resource Utilization & Proactive Problem-Solving Strategies Implemented During Planned Maintenance Activities."
Being a successful maintenance planner requires dedication, skill, and attention to detail, but these qualities come with great rewards, both professionally & personally!
If this sounds like something you would be interested in pursuing, then consider taking advantage today by researching career paths available within this exciting field!
The Drawbacks of Being a Maintenance Planner
Maintenance planners have a lot of responsibility and can sometimes be required to work long hours.
While this may sound like an ideal job for some, it is important to understand the drawbacks that come with being a maintenance planner before committing to the role.
The first drawback is the amount of time you will need to dedicate to your job. As a maintenance planner, you are responsible for scheduling preventative maintenance activities, developing corrective job plans, and working to ensure that all equipment is in good working order.
This requires monitoring of activities in the CMMS and attention to detail associated with job planning, which can take up large amounts of time. Another potential downside is dealing with difficult people or situations when effective partnerships do not exist in an organization.
Maintenance planners must often interact with multiple departments within an organization in order to ensure that everything runs smoothly, which means they may encounter resistance from other teams who disagree on how things should be done. Unfortunately, not all organizations have defined their business processes and can be reactive in nature.
Finally, there are times when unexpected problems arise which require quick thinking and decision-making skills in order to resolve them quickly and efficiently for planned work.
This can add additional stress onto already busy schedules as well as put pressure on the planner if they make mistakes.
Being a maintenance planner isn't always easy, but it does offer great rewards such as job satisfaction, career progression opportunities, financial stability, and more.
It's important for anyone considering this role to weigh up both sides before making their decision, so they know what they're getting into.
How to Become a Maintenance Planner
Are you looking to become a maintenance planner?
This is an exciting and rewarding career that requires strong problem-solving skills, excellent communication abilities, and the ability to work with computerized systems.
If this sounds like something you’d be interested in pursuing, here are some steps to get started:
"1. Get Educated:"
Many maintenance planners start as maintenance technicians. For future advancement, a degree in engineering or business can help give you the knowledge base necessary for success.
No doubt, attending a maintenance planning and scheduling course that leverages a combination of knowledge and hands-on exercises is a key first step. Additionally, consider taking courses related to reliability engineering or asset management, which will provide valuable insight into the field of maintenance planning. If developing preventive maintenance plans, we strongly suggest taking our 3-day RCM2 Introductory course to use as a framework to understand potential failure modes too.
"2. Gain Experience"
The best way to gain experience is by working on projects related to maintenance planning within your current job.
Working on these types of projects will not only build up your resume but also allow you to learn from experienced professionals in the field.
"3. Develop Your Skillset"
Once you have gained experience through education and hands-on practice, it’s important that you continue developing your skillset so that it remains relevant in today’s ever-changing environment of technology and automation tools used for maintenance planning purposes such as the CMMS (Computerized Maintenance Management System) or data analytics.
Take advantage of online resources such as webinars, tutorials, books, etc., which can help keep your skills sharpened while providing additional insights into new trends within the industry. Sign up for our newsletter to get access to future webinars.
"4. Network and Seek Opportunities"
Finally, don’t forget about networking! Reach out to colleagues who may know someone hiring for a position similar to what you are looking for or attend conferences with events related specifically to maintenance planning where potential employers may be present seeking talent just like yours!
By following these steps, you can be well on your way to becoming a successful maintenance planner.
With the right education experience and skillset in place, you’ll be ready to take on any challenge that comes your way!
What the Future Holds for Maintenance Planners
The role of maintenance planners is an integral part of any organization’s success. As technology advances, the need for these professionals to stay ahead of the curve and adapt to new trends becomes increasingly important.
The future looks bright for those in this field as they will continue to play a vital role in keeping equipment and facilities running smoothly.
In order to remain competitive, maintenance planners must be able to think outside the box when it comes to developing corrective maintenance approaches to drive equipment reliability.
This means understanding how different pieces of equipment work together and being able to identify potential issues before they arise.
Additionally, they should have a good grasp of analytics so that they can track performance over time and make adjustments accordingly.
Another key skill for maintenance planners is communication, not only with their team but also with other departments, such as engineering or operations who may need information about repairs or upgrades.
They should also be comfortable working with vendors who provide parts or services related to their projects so that everything runs smoothly from start to finish.
Finally, it’s essential that maintenance planners stay up-to-date on industry trends and best practices in order to ensure their teams are using the most efficient methods possible when completing tasks like inspections or repairs.
By doing this, organizations can save money while still providing top-quality service, which leads directly to increased internal partner and external customer satisfaction levels - something every business strives for!
Overall, there are plenty of opportunities available now and into the future for those looking at becoming a Maintenance Planner – especially if you possess all the necessary skills mentioned above!
With hard work and dedication, you could become an invaluable asset within your organization by helping them achieve maximum efficiency through well-thought-out corrective job plans that address potential defects and avoidable delays!
FAQs in Relation to What Is a Maintenance Planner Job Description
What are the top 3 skills for a maintenance planner?
# Technical Knowledge A maintenance planner must have a thorough understanding of the technical aspects of their job, including an in-depth knowledge of mechanical and electrical systems and machinery operations.
They should also be familiar with condition-based and preventative maintenance programs and procedures to ensure that all equipment is proactively maintained.
# Organizational Skills Maintenance planners need to be highly organized in order to effectively plan out tasks for the team or individual workers they are responsible for overseeing.
This includes being able to prioritize tasks to create job plans and schedules that take into account availability and workloads.
Additionally, they must possess strong communication skills so they can clearly communicate plans with other members of the team or organization.
# Problem-Solving Maintenance planners must be able to identify potential problems before they arise by anticipating issues related to equipment repair or maintenance.
They should also have excellent problem-solving skills so that when issues do arise, they can quickly come up with solutions while minimizing avoidable delays and costs associated with planned work execution activities.
What are the responsibilities of a planner?
A maintenance planner is responsible for ensuring that all proactive maintenance activities are planned, scheduled, and tracked in an efficient and effective manner.
They must be able to anticipate potential problems before they arise (defect prevention and avoidable delays) and create a plan of action to address them.
The planner will also need to coordinate with various departments, such as operations, engineering, purchasing, finance, etc., in order to ensure that the right resources are available when needed.
The planner must have strong organizational skills and be able to prioritize tasks based on their importance or urgency.
Additionally, they should have excellent communication skills so that they can effectively communicate plans with other departments within the organization.
They should also possess good problem-solving abilities so that potential issues for planned work execution can be addressed..
Finally, it is important for the planner to understand how different pieces of equipment work together in order to identify potential areas where proactive maintenance may reduce unnecessary downtime events..
What do you need to be a maintenance planner?
To be a successful maintenance planner, you need to have strong organizational and communication skills. You should also possess the ability to prioritize tasks and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
A good understanding of engineering principles, safety regulations, and preventative maintenance strategies are essential for success in this role.
Additionally, it is important that you are able to work independently as well as collaboratively with other departments within an organization.
Problem-solving skills are key in order to identify potential issues before they become larger problems down the line.
Is maintenance planning a good career?
Yes, a maintenance planner can be a great career choice. Maintenance planners are responsible for planning and scheduling all types of maintenance activities in order to ensure the reliability and safety of equipment, systems, and processes.
They use their knowledge of engineering principles, best practices in preventive maintenance strategies, as well as their organizational skills to develop effective plans that minimize downtime while maximizing efficiency.
Maintenance planners also work closely with operations teams to identify areas where improvements can be made or additional resources may be needed.
With the right qualifications and experience, a career as a maintenance planner offers excellent job security and the potential for growth within an organization.
Conclusion
Maintenance planners are responsible for ensuring that the right resources and materials are available to keep operations running smoothly and efficiently.
They must be organized, have excellent communication skills, and possess an understanding of preventive maintenance techniques.
By having a clear understanding of their responsibilities, they can help ensure that organizations remain productive and profitable while minimizing downtime due to equipment failure or other issues.
Are you looking for a reliable and efficient way to manage your maintenance and reliability needs? Look no further than a Maintenance Planner! A Maintenance Planner is responsible for developing, implementing, and managing preventive maintenance plans, as well as ensuring that all equipment is properly maintained. They are also responsible for monitoring the performance of the equipment and making necessary repairs or adjustments when needed. With their expertise in maintenance planning, they can help you keep your operations running smoothly and efficiently. Contact us today to learn more about our courses and coaching on Maintenance Planning and Scheduling.