Outage Scheduler

Role Overview – Outage O&M Scheduler (Gas Plant)

The Outage Operations & Maintenance (O&M) Scheduler is responsible for planning, integrating, updating, and controlling outage schedules to support safe, efficient, and predictable execution of plant maintenance and forced / planned outages.

This role serves as the single source of truth for outage scope sequencing, logic, and timing, coordinating across plant staff, contractors, OEMs, and system operations.

Core Responsibilities

1. Outage Schedule Development & Maintenance

• Develop detailed CPM-based outage schedules covering mechanical, electrical, I&C, and balance-of-plant work.
• Build schedules from approved outage scope lists/work orders (SAP, Maximo, or CMMS).
• Define logical sequencing, crew flow, and work windows to support safe and executable plans.
• Maintain resource-loaded or crew-leveled schedules where required.

Deliverables include:

• Integrated outage baseline schedule
• Daily and weekly execution look-ahead schedules
• Critical path and near-critical work identification

2. Schedule Integration & Coordination

• Integrate outage activities across:
• Plant O&M teams
• OEMs (e.g., GE, Siemens, Mitsubishi)
• Specialty contractors and inspections
• System Operations / Dispatch constraints
• Ensure the outage schedule aligns with:
• Gas path inspections
• CT/HRSG/ST dependencies
• Lockout/tagout (LOTO) sequencing
• Clearance boundaries and operational handoffs

3. Critical Path & Risk Management

• Identify, monitor, and communicate the outage critical path.
• Perform what-if and recovery analyses for:
• Scope growth
• Late material delivery
• Discovery work (find-and-fix)
• Weather or access delays
• Recommend schedule recovery options (re-sequencing, crew shift changes, parallel work).

4. Coordination with Operations & Maintenance

• Work closely with Operations to:
• Align outage start/end dates
• Define unit outage windows and return-to-service milestones
• Coordinate with Maintenance supervisors to:
• Validate task durations and logic
• Confirm manpower availability
• Sequence work by discipline and system

5. Daily Progress Updating & Forecasting

• Update schedule daily (or at minimum each shift/day) during outage execution.
• Capture:
• Actual starts/finishes
• Percent complete
• Delays and impacts
• Provide updated finish forecasts and explain variances clearly to outage leadership.

6. Performance Reporting & Communication

• Prepare and distribute:
• Daily outage status reports
• Critical path snapshots
• Look-ahead schedules (24-hour, 72-hour, and weekly)
• Brief outage leadership on:
• Schedule status
• Emerging risks
• Decision points needed to protect end date

7. Schedule Quality & Controls

• Ensure schedules meet internal standards for:
• Logical integrity (no open ends where avoidable)
• Reasonable durations
• Limited constraints
• Clear activity descriptions (what, where, who)
• Maintain version control and baselining discipline.
• Support post-outage lessons learned and schedule improvement efforts.

8. Interface with Long-Range & Fleet Planning (if applicable)

• Support integration of outage schedules into:
• Annual outage plans
• Fleet-level maintenance plans
• Capacity forecasting and market planning
• Provide historical outage data for:
• Duration benchmarking
• Future outage planning

Typical Tools & Systems

• Scheduling Software: Primavera P6 (most common), MS Project (less common)
• CMMS: SAP, Maximo, Passport
• Reporting: Excel, Power BI, dashboards
• Outage Control: Whiteboard schedules, execution boards, or digital equivalents

Key Skills & Competencies

• Strong CPM scheduling fundamentals
• Working knowledge of:
• Gas turbine systems (CT, HRSG, ST)
• Outage work execution practices
• Ability to communicate complex schedule logic to non-schedulers
• High attention to detail under outage time pressure
• Comfort working in a command-and-control outage environment

Authority & Accountability (Typical)

• Authority to:
• Propose sequence changes
• Identify and escalate schedule risks
• Accountable for:
• Schedule accuracy and realism
• Timely progress updates
• Transparent communication of impacts