Turnaround Maintenance

Abstract

All major process industries (petrochemicals, refining, power generation, pulp and paper, steel plants, etc.) use Turnaround Maintenance (TAM) on a regular basis to increase equipment asset reliability, have continued production integrity, and reduce the risk of unscheduled outages or catastrophic failures. Plant turnarounds constitute the single largest identifiable maintenance expense. A major TAM is of short duration and high intensity in terms of work load. A 4 – 5 weeks TAM may consume an equivalent cost of a yearly maintenance budget. Because TAM projects are very expensive in terms of direct costs and lost production, they need to be planned and executed carefully. Turnaround management's potential for cost savings is dramatic, and it directly contributes to the company's bottom line profits. However, controlling turnaround costs and duration represent a definite challenge. Maintenance Planning and Scheduling is one of the most important elements in maintenance management and can play a key role in managing complex TAM events.