Learn how to plan, prioritize, and execute your maintenance activities with competing demands. Follow these six tips to optimize your outcomes and minimize your risks.

Supply with regard to Demand shall be hampered if there is unplanned losses due to equipment and accessories failures. Adopting preventive maintenance tactics shall definitely reduce the risk of unplanned failures. Planned losses due to predictive shut down, overhaul etc. can be done based on the Demand schedule. But in that case too, a detailed Risk Assessment shall be carried out.

For Prioritisation of Maintenance Task we need to look on Consequences (Financial and Non Financial) and Likelihood. Consequences can be broadly divided in two streams 1. Financial Consequences 1.1 Production Loss 1.2 Maintenance cost (Spare & Service) 2. Non Financial Consequences:- 2.1 Environmental Impact 2.2 Health Impact 2.3 Safety Impact 2.4 Legislative Impact 2.5 Reputation Impact Each consequence can be categorised on a Scale of 1 to 5. And same way Likelihood should also categorised on a scale of 1 to 5. In this way using this 5×5 matrix , Maintenance Task priority cane be decided (Very High, High, Medium, Low) We can link it to SAP,while raising Notification,Priority can be decided & Maintenance team can attend job accordingly

How do you prioritize maintenance tasks with competing demands?

As a maintenance professional, you know how important it is to keep your equipment and systems running smoothly and safely. But you also face the challenge of balancing multiple and sometimes conflicting demands for your time and resources. How do you prioritize maintenance tasks with competing demands? Here are some tips to help you plan, prioritize, and execute your maintenance activities effectively.

1 Assess the risks

The first step to prioritize maintenance tasks is to assess the risks involved in each one. Risks can include safety hazards, environmental impacts, operational disruptions, quality issues, and financial losses. You can use a risk matrix to rank your tasks according to the likelihood and severity of the consequences if they are not performed. This will help you identify the most critical and urgent tasks that need your attention.

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Anirban Ghosh

Having 28+ yrs. versatile experience and SME in Quality Assurance and Control, Asset Integrity and PSM domain
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Supply with regard to Demand shall be hampered if there is unplanned losses due to equipment and accessories failures. Adopting preventive maintenance tactics shall definitely reduce the risk of unplanned failures. Planned losses due to predictive shut down, overhaul etc. can be done based on the Demand schedule. But in that case too, a detailed Risk Assessment shall be carried out.

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Hemant Gautam

Maintenance Excellence leader driving Planning, Reliability and Continuous Improvement & Innovation in Oil & Gas and Petrochemicals
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For Prioritisation of Maintenance Task we need to look on Consequences (Financial and Non Financial) and Likelihood. Consequences can be broadly divided in two streams 1. Financial Consequences 1.1 Production Loss 1.2 Maintenance cost (Spare & Service) 2. Non Financial Consequences:- 2.1 Environmental Impact 2.2 Health Impact 2.3 Safety Impact 2.4 Legislative Impact 2.5 Reputation Impact Each consequence can be categorised on a Scale of 1 to 5. And same way Likelihood should also categorised on a scale of 1 to 5. In this way using this 5×5 matrix , Maintenance Task priority cane be decided (Very High, High, Medium, Low) We can link it to SAP,while raising Notification,Priority can be decided & Maintenance team can attend job accordingly

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Colin Wilson

Director & Co-Founder at SRCN Solutions
(edited)
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When prioritising maintenance it is important to assess the consequence and likelihood of the most credible highest consequence scenario and not the scenario with highest consequence but remote possibility of occurrence. It is also good practice to include mitigation in the risk assessment to ensure that it is work that is to avoid the highest likely potential for consequence occurrence that is prioritised first.

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Muhammad Shafiul Munir

MBA, Class of 2025 at Tulane University| Project Management Intern at Dell Technologies| AI Enthusiast| Continuous Improvement & Skills Development Manager at BAT| Supply Chain Management| Performance Coaching
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There are different types of maintenance strategies that a manufacturing unit can adopt- shutdown maintenance, preventive, predictive, which focuses on spare parts replacement, and Autonomous maintenance, which focuses on eliminating forced deterioration. It is important to focus on autonomous maintenance techniques like cleaning, inspection lubrication, and defect finding, where applicable, to reduce the downtime required in maintaining the machines. On the other hand, we must actively develop machine history data to predict exactly when the spares will fail to avoid unnecessary interventions. Another action can be taken is inspection-based maintenance, utilizing sensing, testing, condition monitoring, and technical experts.

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2 Consider the benefits

The next step to prioritize maintenance tasks is to consider the benefits of each one. Benefits can include improved performance, reliability, efficiency, and lifespan of your equipment and systems. You can use a benefit matrix to rank your tasks according to the value and impact they provide to your organization and customers. This will help you identify the most important and valuable tasks that support your goals and objectives.

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3 Apply the criteria

The third step to prioritize maintenance tasks is to apply the criteria that suit your situation and context. Criteria can include the availability of resources, the alignment with schedules and plans, the compliance with standards and regulations, and the feedback from stakeholders. You can use a criteria matrix to rank your tasks according to the feasibility and suitability of performing them. This will help you identify the most realistic and appropriate tasks that fit your constraints and expectations.

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4 Review the priorities

The fourth step to prioritize maintenance tasks is to review the priorities you have assigned to each one. You can use a priority matrix to combine the results of your risk, benefit, and criteria matrices and compare your tasks according to their relative importance and urgency. This will help you identify the most optimal and effective tasks that maximize your outcomes and minimize your risks.

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5 Communicate the plan

The fifth step to prioritize maintenance tasks is to communicate the plan to your team and stakeholders. You can use a Gantt chart or a similar tool to visualize your tasks, their dependencies, their deadlines, and their progress. This will help you share your plan, explain your rationale, solicit feedback, and coordinate your actions.

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6 Monitor and adjust

The sixth step to prioritize maintenance tasks is to monitor and adjust your plan as needed. You can use key performance indicators (KPIs) or other metrics to measure your results, identify gaps, and evaluate your performance. This will help you track your plan, report your achievements, learn from your challenges, and adapt to changes.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How do you prioritize maintenance tasks with competing demands?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Assess the risks

2 Consider the benefits

3 Apply the criteria

4 Review the priorities

5 Communicate the plan

6 Monitor and adjust

7 Here’s what else to consider

Manufacturing

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How do you prioritize maintenance tasks with competing demands?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Assess the risks

2 Consider the benefits

3 Apply the criteria

4 Review the priorities

5 Communicate the plan

6 Monitor and adjust

7 Here’s what else to consider

Manufacturing

Rate this article

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