Page 413 - Improving Machinery Reliability

Maintenance for Continued Reliability 377

Peak Shaving Maintenance

Peak shaving simply means that under normal periods of plant operation, the gen-
eral maintenance load is handled by a small existing staff. However, during periods
when you are performing turnarounds or rerates, correcting major breakdowns, or
revamping your plant layout, the extraordinary work will be subcontracted to an
independent service organization. Figure 10- 1 illustrates this concept.

Advantages
This method of operation allows you to hold your maintenance staff to the most
cost-effective level at all times.
You can maintain a planned and systematic work schedule, keeping overtime
(resulting from turnarounds and emergencies) to a minimum. This will allow you
to operate within the contractual guidelines agreed to by company management
and unions.
You are able to forecast and budget your annual maintenance costs with a high
degree of accuracy.
You can minimize the duration of your turnaround and the attendant loss of operat-
ing time, which will yield significant economic advantages.
There is no need to keep equipment specialists employed full-time, and you can
insist on, and get higher productivity from, suitably qualified outside maintenance
personnel.

Disadvantages

@ There is the tendency of your maintenance bargaining personnel to feel that a fully
trained maintenance complement should be employed full-time.

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JAN. FEE. MAR.APR. MAY JUN. JUL. AUQ. SEP. OCT. NOV. DEC.
MONTHS
Figure 10-1. Peak shaving by outside contractor.