Maintenance and Engineering

Maintenance Planning, Scheduling and Control

This course focuses on the principles and practices of maintenance planning, scheduling, and control within industrial settings. Participants will learn to optimise maintenance strategies, enhance equipment reliability, and improve operational efficiency through effective planning and scheduling techniques.

5 days Classroom or live online English

Smart Horizon Certified - Global Leadership Consultants

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Download the full standard outline: why attend, methodology, objectives, audience, competencies, the daily outline and current plans.

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Why attend

From knowledge to real-world impact.

Maintenance planning and scheduling are critical for minimising downtime and maximising productivity in industrial operations. Participants often face challenges such as unexpected equipment failures, inefficient resource allocation, and inadequate maintenance strategies. Addressing these issues is essential for maintaining operational continuity, reducing costs, and ensuring compliance with safety regulations. By mastering these skills, participants will be better equipped to implement proactive maintenance practices that extend asset life and enhance overall performance, directly impacting the bottom line. Furthermore, effective maintenance planning enables organisations to allocate resources efficiently, thereby improving workforce productivity and reducing the risk of operational disruptions.

This course equips participants with the skills to analyse maintenance needs, develop effective schedules, and implement control measures. Participants will engage in practical exercises that simulate real-world scenarios, enabling them to make informed decisions about maintenance priorities, resource allocation, and performance metrics. By practising these capabilities, they will learn to balance maintenance activities with production demands, optimise workforce utilisation, and enhance communication across departments. Additionally, participants will explore the integration of technology in maintenance management, allowing them to leverage data analytics for predictive maintenance, ultimately leading to improved reliability and reduced operational costs.

Workplace challenges

Professional Problems This Course Is Designed to Solve

The programme explores practical approaches to the following challenges. Results depend on how the learning is applied in your organisation.

Reactive maintenance disrupting operational availability.
Maintenance schedules that overlook resources and asset priorities.
Weak tracking of work completion, backlog and maintenance performance.

Course methodology

How you will learn.

The course employs a blend of interactive workshops, case studies, and simulation exercises to build practical skills in maintenance planning and scheduling. Participants will work on real-world scenarios that require them to analyse maintenance data, develop schedules, and implement control measures. Specific exercises will include creating maintenance task lists, prioritising tasks based on risk assessments, and using software tools for scheduling. Participants will also engage in group discussions to share insights and best practices. Outputs will include maintenance plans, scheduling templates, and performance reports, providing tangible evidence of their learning and capability development. This practical focus ensures that participants leave with applicable skills and knowledge to enhance their maintenance operations.

Course objectives

What you'll take away.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

Analyse maintenance requirements to identify critical assets and their specific needs for optimal performance.
Design a comprehensive maintenance plan that aligns with operational goals and improves equipment reliability.
Calculate optimal maintenance schedules using industry-standard techniques to minimise downtime and resource waste.
Prioritise maintenance tasks based on risk assessment and impact analysis to ensure critical operations are maintained.
Assess the effectiveness of maintenance strategies through performance metrics and continuous improvement processes.
Construct control measures to monitor and improve maintenance processes for enhanced operational efficiency.
Evaluate the impact of maintenance decisions on overall operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness in the organisation.
Develop contingency plans for unexpected maintenance issues and resource constraints to ensure operational continuity.

Target audience

Who should attend.

This course is suitable for:

Maintenance Managers responsible for overseeing maintenance operations and strategies.
Maintenance Planners tasked with developing and implementing effective maintenance schedules.
Operations Managers seeking to improve equipment reliability and reduce downtime in production.
Asset Managers focused on optimising the lifecycle of physical assets and resources.

Target competencies

Capabilities you will build.

Participants will develop competencies in:

Ability to analyse and interpret maintenance data effectively for informed decision-making.
Skill in designing maintenance plans that enhance operational efficiency and reliability.
Proficiency in scheduling techniques to minimise equipment downtime and resource conflicts.
Capability to assess and prioritise maintenance tasks based on criticality and risk.
Expertise in monitoring and controlling maintenance processes for continuous improvement.
Understanding of performance metrics and their application in maintenance management practices.
Competence in utilising software tools for effective maintenance planning and scheduling.
Skill in developing contingency plans for maintenance-related disruptions and challenges.

Course outline

Your learning journey.

A focused, practical outline with time to explore, apply and reflect.

Day 1Fundamentals of Maintenance Planning

Applied activity: Participants will analyse a fictional facility's maintenance data to identify critical assets and their maintenance needs, using provided templates and tools. They will present their findings and recommendations to the group, discussing potential impacts on overall operations and resource allocation.

Output: A report detailing identified critical assets and recommended maintenance strategies.

09:00–09:54Overview of maintenance strategies: reactive vs. proactive approaches and their implications.
09:54–10:48Key concepts in maintenance planning and scheduling processes for effective operations.
10:48–11:00Understanding equipment life cycles and their criticality in maintenance planning.
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–12:12Understanding equipment life cycles and their criticality in maintenance planning. (continued)
12:12–13:06Introduction to maintenance management systems and their functionalities in practice.
13:06–14:00Role of data analytics in informed maintenance decision-making and strategy development.

Day 2Developing Effective Maintenance Plans

Applied activity: Participants will create a detailed maintenance plan for a fictional production line, including task lists, schedules, and resource allocation based on operational goals and constraints. They will justify their choices based on risk assessments and potential impacts on production.

Output: A complete maintenance plan document for the fictional production line, including schedules.

09:00–09:54Components of a comprehensive maintenance plan and its importance in operational success.
09:54–10:48Aligning maintenance objectives with broader business goals and operational strategies.
10:48–11:00Conducting risk assessments to inform maintenance planning decisions effectively.
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–12:12Conducting risk assessments to inform maintenance planning decisions effectively. (continued)
12:12–13:06Creating detailed maintenance task lists and effective schedules to optimise resources.
13:06–14:00Utilising software tools for enhanced maintenance planning efficiency and accuracy.

Day 3Scheduling Techniques for Maintenance

Applied activity: Using a provided case study, participants will develop a maintenance schedule for a complex system, considering resource constraints, production schedules, and maintenance priorities. They will present their schedule to the group for feedback and improvement suggestions.

Output: A Gantt chart illustrating the proposed maintenance schedule, including timelines.

09:00–09:54Introduction to scheduling methodologies: Gantt charts, CPM, and PERT techniques for maintenance.
09:54–10:48Calculating maintenance windows and effective resource allocation strategies for tasks.
10:48–11:00Balancing maintenance schedules with production demands and operational constraints effectively.
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–12:12Balancing maintenance schedules with production demands and operational constraints effectively. (continued)
12:12–13:06Utilising software for effective scheduling and tracking maintenance progress over time.
13:06–14:00Case studies on successful maintenance scheduling implementations and lessons learned.

Day 4Monitoring and Controlling Maintenance Activities

Applied activity: Participants will assess the effectiveness of a fictional maintenance strategy using KPIs and propose control measures for improvement. They will collaborate to create a presentation summarising their findings and recommendations for enhancing maintenance performance.

Output: A performance assessment report with recommendations for control measures and improvements.

09:00–09:54Key performance indicators (KPIs) for effective maintenance management and monitoring.
09:54–10:48Techniques for monitoring maintenance effectiveness and performance over time.
10:48–11:00Implementing control measures for continuous improvement in maintenance processes and outcomes.
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–12:12Implementing control measures for continuous improvement in maintenance processes and outcomes. (continued)
12:12–13:06Establishing feedback loops and their importance in maintenance management practices.
13:06–14:00Case studies on successful maintenance control and monitoring strategies.

Day 5Integrated Maintenance Management Practice

Applied activity: Participants will work in teams to develop an integrated maintenance management framework for a fictional organisation, incorporating planning, scheduling, and control elements. They will present their framework to the class for evaluation and feedback, discussing potential challenges and solutions.

Output: A comprehensive integrated maintenance management framework document for the fictional organisation.

09:00–09:54Combining planning, scheduling, and control for optimal maintenance outcomes in organisations.
09:54–10:48Developing a comprehensive maintenance management framework for effective operations.
10:48–11:00Collaborative approaches to maintenance across various departments and functions for success.
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–12:12Collaborative approaches to maintenance across various departments and functions for success. (continued)
12:12–13:06Utilising technology for integrated maintenance solutions and data sharing among teams.
13:06–14:00Future trends in maintenance management and their implications for organisations.

The timings provided are estimates and may vary depending on the number of participants and the discussions taking place during the sessions. They are indicative only and do not constitute a binding commitment.

Dates & venues

Find a session that works for you.

Confirmed dates accept registration requests. Tentative dates are enquiry only.

Good to know

A few things to know.

How is the course delivered?

Our classroom programmes combine facilitated discussion, case studies, exercises and reflection. The precise format will be confirmed before enrolment.

Can you deliver this programme for our team?

Yes, you can enquire about a tailored programme. Share your goals, group size and preferred dates with our learning team.

Will I receive a certificate?

Participants who complete the programme receive a Smart Horizon UK certificate of attendance. Smart Horizon UK programmes are not externally accredited and do not award a professional qualification, licence or designation. Where a course title or outline refers to a professional certification (for example, AACE International's Certified Cost Professional), the programme supports learning and preparation only; the credential itself is awarded solely by the relevant professional body under its own application and examination requirements.

What should I confirm before booking travel?

Please confirm the session, exact venue, accessibility arrangements, fees and any visa requirements with the team before arranging travel. Tentative dates are not confirmed sessions.

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