Operations and Maintenance (O&M) is the backbone of power plant efficiency. In today’s ever-changing landscape, where base load plants are being asked to cycle or peak and run times are getting longer and longer, the daily tasks and activities required to keep a power plant running smoothly and efficiently are getting tougher than ever. Power plant O&M teams are the unsung heroes, tackling a vast array of challenges. From equipment upkeep and system repairs to meticulous operational monitoring, they ensure everything runs optimally.
The Power of Efficient O&M
- Reduced Downtime: Proper maintenance helps identify and address potential issues before they escalate into major breakdowns. This translates to less downtime, keeping your operations running smoothly and avoiding costly production stoppages.
- Extended Equipment Lifespan: Regular maintenance catches minor problems early on, preventing them from deteriorating into bigger issues that could significantly shorten the lifespan of your equipment. This saves you money in the long run, as you won’t need to replace equipment as frequently.
- Improved Efficiency and Productivity: Well-maintained equipment operates more efficiently, using less energy and producing higher-quality outputs. This translates to increased productivity and overall cost savings.
- Enhanced Safety: Regular maintenance helps identify potential safety hazards before they cause accidents. This keeps your workplace safer for your employees.
- Reduced Costs: While proactive maintenance requires some upfront investment, it’s significantly cheaper than dealing with unexpected breakdowns and repairs. By preventing major issues and extending equipment life, you save money in the long run.
Challenges Maintaining a Strong Operations & Maintenance Team
In today’s evolving energy landscape, power plant owners and operators are continually exploring avenues to improve efficiency and keep operations running smoothly. Increased worldwide energy consumption, increased demand for more flexible response times, increased need for renewables, employee burnout, and an aging workforce are posing a challenge in filling open positions quickly with qualified employees.
In addition, recruiting, interviewing, and onboarding new hires can be a lengthy process. According to SHRM, 44 days is the average number of days it takes to hire a new employee. Oftentimes, power plant owners and operators need flexible staffing solutions that cannot be addressed through standard hiring processes. Staffing needs are not always for permanent placements, and the skills needed are not always easy or even possible to source locally.
Traditionally, summer and winter runs require more staff when the air and heat are typically running at the highest levels. During these times, staff can be overworked and suffer from fatigue or burnout. In the fall and spring, extra maintenance staffing support may be required when plants are not running as hard and can be shut down for maintenance or repairs. When these scenarios take place, strategic staffing solutions can fill those gaps in operations and maintenance teams to keep plants running safely and smoothly.
Finding the Right Support: The Role of Strategic Staffing Solutions
This is where strategic operation and maintenance staffing solutions can offer significant advantages. Here’s how they can address the challenges:
Filling Skill Gaps and Enhancing Flexibility
Keeping an optimal number of skilled, experienced employees has proved to be challenging in the power industry, and skill gaps can lead to decreased productivity and increased operational risk. When power plant operators don’t have access to the quality staff they need to operate and maintain their plant, they must run on skeleton crews. This can lead to employee fatigue and burnout, as well as increased safety risks.
By utilizing the right strategic staffing partner, plants can supplement their teams with employees who have the skills they need when they need them. Whether their need is 3 weeks, 3 months, or 3 years, they will have access to qualified employees to meet their specific needs to optimize their workforce.
Cost-Effective Solutions
Staffing companies can save you time and resources by reducing reliance on overtime, minimizing burnout among existing staff, lowering administrative burdens, and reducing operating costs related to unemployment and SUTA taxes. They also handle hiring, onboarding, and benefits, leading to overall cost savings.
Safety and Compliance
Safety is paramount in power plants. Staffing companies with expertise in the industry provide well-trained employees who possess the necessary certifications, minimizing the risk of accidents and regulatory non-compliance. They can also help navigate complex regulations, ensuring your plant operates smoothly. In addition, some staffing companies are the employer of record (EOR) for employees they place. This means they take on employee burdens, including workers compensation claims.
Choosing the Right O&M Staffing Partner
Selecting the right staffing partner with the right qualities is crucial. Here are some key factors to consider:
- Industry Experience: Look for an experienced staffing partner niche in the power plant industry. They should understand your needs, power plant operations, power plant equipment and its unique requirements, and industry compliance and safety standards.
- Reputation and Track Record: Research their reputation, read employee and client reviews and testimonials, and inquire about their success rate in filling operation and maintenance roles. You can also ask for references and experience lists.
- Employee Network: A large professional employee network increases the chances of finding the right employee to fit your staffing needs. To gauge the size and quality of a staffing company’s employee network, you can ask for sample resumes, experience lists, and sample video interviews.
- Customized Solutions: Choose a partner offering solutions tailored to your specific operation and maintenance staffing needs, including flexible staffing options. They should be able to adapt to your workforce demands and requirements and offer customized solutions specific to your plant.
- Compliance and Safety: Ensure they have robust protocols for screening employees, verifying qualifications, and adhering to relevant regulations and standards. Ask questions about their safety program. Do they have a dedicated safety manager? Are they the EOR for the employees they place? What does their safety manual entail? What are their procedures in the event of an accident or claim?
Power Up Your Workforce with APS Solutions Operations and Maintenance Staffing
While the challenges of a competitive energy market, skilled labor shortages, and rising costs are real, they can be overcome. By implementing a proactive staffing strategy, you can ensure your facility runs smoothly, safely, and efficiently.
APS Solutions partners with power plants to understand and meet their unique operations and maintenance needs. By partnering with a qualified operations and maintenance staffing company niche in the energy and power industry and implementing strategic staffing solutions, you can overcome staffing challenges so your power plant operates at peak efficiency.
Imagine a world where you have a readily available pool of highly skilled and experienced operations and maintenance professionals whenever you need them. With APS Solutions as your strategic staffing partner, that ideal scenario can become your reality.
We understand the unique challenges faced by power plant operators in today’s ever-changing energy landscape. From filling skill gaps and ensuring regulatory compliance to managing costs and employee well-being, APS Solutions has the expertise and resources to address them all.
By partnering with us, you gain access to a pre-vetted pool of qualified operations and maintenance professionals with the specific skills and certifications needed to keep your plant running smoothly. Whether you need short-term support during peak seasons or long-term placements to fill critical roles, we have the flexibility to adapt to your unique workforce needs.
The APS Solutions Advantage
Our commitment goes beyond simply connecting you with qualified personnel. We handle the entire recruitment and onboarding process, saving you valuable time and resources. You can focus on what matters most—keeping your plant operating at peak efficiency and delivering reliable power.
Furthermore, APS Solutions prioritizes safety. We have a dedicated safety manager and robust screening protocols to make sure placed employees possess the necessary certifications and adhere to the strictest industry standards. Additionally, we are the employer of record (EOR) for employees we place, taking on the burden of workers’ compensation and other employee-related responsibilities.
When it comes to operations and maintenance in the power plant industry, APS stands out as a leading staffing company. With years of experience and in-depth knowledge and understanding of the dynamic nature of power plant operations, APS provides exceptional staffing solutions for power plants.
Imagine the peace of mind that comes with knowing your O&M team is fully qualified, safety-oriented, and ready to tackle any challenge. That’s the power of partnering with APS Solutions.
Unlock the full potential of your power plant operations. Contact APS Solutions today and let us help you build an O&M team that will drive efficiency, safety, and cost savings for years to come.
Sample Operations and Maintenance Positions We Staff
- Plant Managers
- Assistant Plant Manager
- Plant Engineers
- Control Room Operator (CRO)
- Maintenance Mechanic
- Maintenance Instrumentation
- Maintenance Electrician
- Operations Manager
- Shift Supervisor
- Auxiliary Operator
- Laboratory Technician
- Office Administration
- Plant Chemist
- Warehouseman
Sources
- SHRM
