7.5 Contractor Management

We are in unprecedented times. Covid-19 wreaked havoc on supply chains; decreased production during times of increased demand. Labor shortages, chip shortages, long lead items turning into “maybe next year, if you’re lucky” items. The Russia Ukraine war added further stress to supply chains through sanctions, port closures, fuel shortages and much more. What once was reliable is now unreliable. So how can companies overcome an unreliable supply chain to maintain their reliability? There are several ways to mitigate unreliability; scenario planning, supplier management, and technology. There is no one size fits all and what may work for one company will not necessarily work for another. Scenario planning involves reviewing every potential situation that could occur, then working through to see how the company would be impacted. Ultimately this results in mitigation plans for each scenario. These can then be reviewed and implemented. Proper Supplier Management includes ensuring all suppliers have their scorecards reviewed on a regular basis. Their information updated and kept current. It can also include reviewing which suppliers can become substitutes for others in the event one is not able to provide the required product in time. Technology is important as it links all the information together. Algorithms can be created to let management know that certain parts are low, equipment is wearing out sooner, it also collects information on suppliers for the scorecards. Overall technology is the glue that binds and provides real time information updates. This presentation will review how to best use technology to help mitigate reliability and supply chain issues.

The Irving Pulp & Paper maintenance team was the recipient of the PEMAC Maintenance Team of the Year Award for 2021. The team was honored to be nominated based upon long term sustained performance improvements, professional development, controlling reactive maintenance and continuous improvement.

Do those that manage the performance, understand the measures?

Most front line lead hands or supervisors are appointed to their positions because they are good at their jobs. But how often do they get management training to work effectively with people and build their teams? This presentation highlights five companies who invested in front line supervisor in-person leadership training to work effectively with diverse workforces. It describes their struggles, successes and explains what works to transform "good workers" into "inspired, confident team leaders".

A practical and efficient condition based maintenance (CBM) program is built of two fundamental elements-one for rotating and dynamic assets in the adopted term of a (PdM) or Predictive Maintenance program and one for static assets known as Risk Based Inspection (RBI) program. This presentation will highlight these NSPI asset management programs for monitoring the state and reporting condition based (CBM) deficiencies on our physical assets. The discussion will review the development, management, integration and day-to-day application of our PdM/RBI programs including tools and techniques for VA, IR, MCA, HEP/FAC inspections and more. Participants will also discuss the general journey to condition monitoring for equipment over the thermal fleet. NSPI consciously chose innovative vendors, technologies and techniques. The audience will learn what challenges it faced internally and externally. The differences between how the CBM programs are integrated into our business today as opposed to piecemeal prior to AM program implementation starting in 2012.