Beyond the Fix List: A Training Course in Advanced Maintenance Planning and Scheduling
1Summary
Unplanned downtime is one of the most expensive problems an industrial operation can face, and in most cases it isn't caused by a lack of maintenance — it's caused by maintenance that was never properly planned or scheduled. This Training Course from Arab British Fellowship Training Academy is built around fixing exactly that gap, giving maintenance professionals the tools to plan proactively instead of reacting to breakdowns as they happen.
Across the course, participants work through scheduling techniques, resource allocation, preventive maintenance programs, and performance tracking, supported by real case studies from industries where getting maintenance planning right — or wrong — has a direct, measurable effect on the bottom line.
2Objectives and target group
Objectives
- Build comprehensive, business-aligned maintenance plans instead of ad-hoc repair lists.
- Master scheduling tools, from work orders to Gantt charts and the critical path method, to prioritize tasks and cut equipment downtime.
- Optimize the use of workforce, spare parts, and tools across maintenance operations.
- Track maintenance performance through KPIs and adjust plans based on real data.
- Apply Lean, Six Sigma, and FMEA principles to keep improving maintenance processes over time.
- Translate lessons from real industry case studies into practices that strengthen asset reliability and support long-term career growth in maintenance and asset management.
Who Should Attend?
- Maintenance managers, supervisors, planners, and schedulers.
- Operations managers and reliability engineers.
- Asset managers and facilities/plant managers.
- Engineering professionals working in asset management.
- Anyone aiming to improve maintenance processes in an industrial setting.
3Course Content
Module 1: From Reactive Repairs to Strategic Maintenance Planning
- Comparing preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance strategies.
- Aligning maintenance plans with wider business goals, not just equipment lists.
- Risk-based prioritization: deciding what gets fixed first, and why.
Module 2: Scheduling That Actually Reduces Downtime
- Building effective work orders and choosing the right scheduling method.
- Using Gantt charts and the critical path method (CPM) for complex maintenance schedules.
- Software tools for scheduling, tracking, and adjusting plans on the fly.
Module 3: Getting the Most Out of People, Parts, and Tools
- Allocating workforce, spare parts, and equipment for maximum efficiency.
- Managing spare parts inventory and procurement without overstocking.
- Workforce planning: matching skills and training to maintenance demand.
Module 4: Building a Preventive Maintenance Program from Scratch
- Structuring a facility into logical maintenance zones.
- Developing equipment lists, manuals, and inventory systems.
- Setting realistic schedules and understanding the risks of an under-resourced PM program.
Module 5: Measuring What Matters and Improving Continuously
- Tracking maintenance effectiveness through key performance indicators.
- Root cause analysis and Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA).
- Applying Lean and Six Sigma principles to eliminate recurring maintenance problems.
Module 6: Lessons from the Field
- Real-world case studies of successful maintenance planning and scheduling.
- Common challenges across industries, and how leading teams solved them.
- Turning case-study insights into an action plan for your own organization.