Shutdown, Turnaround and Outage Management
Addressing a critical training gap in Asset Management
Shutdowns, turnarounds, and outages (STOs) are among the most complex, costly, and high-stakes operations in industry. Yet, there is currently no standardized training or certification program for managing these events in Canada. PEMAC is proud to invite participation in the development STO Training and Certification Program, a national initiative aimed at closing this critical skills gap.
Invitation to Support the Development of an STO Certification Program
Your Company Can Make a Difference in three ways:
Contribute Financially: Our goal is to raise $250,000 - $500,000 to complete the curriculum development and rollout of the certification program. The amount we raise will impact the speed that we can make the full program available.
Offer Subject Matter Expertise: Time and expertise to help shape the curriculum and ensure its relevance to all sectors of the industry is a valuable contribution.
Gift Training Content: Share your company’s existing STO training and management materials to enrich the course content.
Vision for the Program
The current vision for the STO Certification Program is to provide an industry-leading peer-developed curriculum with:
- 4-6 Courses covering all aspects of STO project management, including the principles of planning, scheduling, risk management, budgeting, quality control, contract management, execution, and more. (It is anticipated that Module 1 will be completed and available in 2026.)
- A Capstone Project to apply learned concepts in a practical setting, ensuring real-world relevance.
- A flexible, scalable curriculum that can be applied to small shutdowns to large-scale turnarounds.
- National certification and recognition, modeled after PEMAC's successful Maintenance Management Professional (MMP) and Asset Management Professional (AMP) certifications.
Benefit to Industry
- Gain a Competitive Edge: A better-trained, more knowledgeable workforce translates into project efficiency, reduced downtime, and improved ROI - potentially millions* per event.
- Reduce Onboarding & Training Costs: Benefit from a talent pool that enters your organization already equipped with essential knowledge and safety awareness.
- Safety & Compliance: The program addresses critical areas such as safety, risk management, and compliance, ensuring better outcomes for both workers and operations.
- Build a Skilled Workforce: Help ensure that the next generation of workers is trained in the specific skills required to meet the current and future needs of your industry.
- Drive Innovation: Leverage PEMAC’s partnerships with academia to access a network of research and innovation in asset management, operational excellence, and technology.
- Global Competitiveness: With a standardized approach, Canadian professionals and companies will be better equipped to compete on the global stage, addressing skill shortages and rising industry demands.
- Long-Term Benefits: By investing in this program, your company will be helping to shape the future of STO management, building a stronger workforce and a more efficient industry.
- Brand Leadership: Align your organization with a high-impact, nation-building initiative in asset management.
*Based on a PEMAC survey
Benefits for Individuals:
Industry-Aligned Curriculum: Training content will be driven by real-world operational realities, not academic theory.
Real-World Insights and Networking: Peer-to-peer learning, and case studies that give participants applied experience in the field.
Workforce Readiness: Graduates of the STO program are better prepared for roles in operations and maintenance, closing the gap between theory and practice.
Professional Growth: Even experienced professionals can benefit from participating in updated training aligning with developing industry standards.
Recruitment Advantage: Graduates will be job-ready and aligned with your organization’s operational needs and culture.
Join Us in Setting the Standard
Support PEMAC's STO Certification Program and take the first step toward transforming STO management in Canada. Together, we can create a more efficient, safer, and cost-effective industry for the future.
To express interest, complete the form below. We'll follow up when more information is available.