Contractors are an essential part of any plant’s operating strategy.  In this session we’ll review a “best practice” model for the effective use of contractors, including a set of contractor selection criteria.  Contractors are likely most effective:

• For low frequency, high consequence specialized efforts, e.g., large turbine rotor balancing, infrared thermography
• For high frequency, low consequence, low skill efforts, e.g., custodial work.
• For significant short-term projects, or during a peak demand period, when the existing workforce is inadequate.
• For turnarounds and major outages.

Maintenance is often a “core competency”, something often not fully recognized by executives.  You take a substantial risk in replacing your maintenance organization with a set of cheaper “warm bodies” and expecting significantly better performance.  We will review a case study illustrating this.

Contractors must “deliver and effect”, not just provide workers.