Do You Really Need More Technicians?
The Skills Shortage
When speaking with clients and asking what issues they currently face in their maintenance department, more often than not we are told that recruiting more technicians is becoming increasingly more difficult. Our first question then is - ‘how do you know you actually need more technicians?’
The Rule of Thumb
Generally, maintenance departments are established and run based on historical requirements and workloads. However, equipment and systems change over time, new technology may also have been introduced. The processes, skills and time required to maintain these will also have changed.
Evolving Needs
Regularly assessing whether you have the right amount of maintenance technicians requires careful analysis of your organisation's needs. If you are running your maintenance department based on historic assessments/requirements this could mean that you have a shortfall, or it could actually mean that you are over-staffed and it is the procedures and processes that need to be updated.
How to Address the Issue
Before embarking on a recruitment drive, there are a number of steps you can take to evaluate your maintenance technician staffing levels:
1. Determine Workload and Maintenance Requirements
Start by understanding the scope of your maintenance operations. Evaluate the size and complexity of your equipment and systems, as well as the frequency and types of maintenance tasks required. Consider factors such as preventive maintenance, reactive maintenance, equipment uptime targets, and any planned expansions or changes in production. This analysis will help you estimate the workload and determine the number of technicians required to meet maintenance demands effectively.
2. Analyse Historical Data
Examine historical maintenance records to identify patterns and trends. Look for information on work order volume, response times, and completion rates. This data can provide insights into the average workload and help identify any seasonal or periodic spikes in maintenance activities. Analysing historical data helps you establish baseline metrics and compare them against your current technician capacity.
3. Assess Technician Productivity and Efficiency
Evaluate the productivity and efficiency of your current maintenance team. Review their work completion rates, time taken for different types of tasks, and any bottlenecks or inefficiencies in the workflow. This assessment will help you determine whether your existing technicians are working at optimal levels or if additional resources are required to meet maintenance demands.
4. Conduct Workforce Gap Analysis
Compare your current technician capacity with the estimated workload. Identify any gaps between the resources available and the resources needed to fulfill maintenance requirements adequately. This analysis will help you assess whether you have a surplus or shortage of maintenance technicians.
5. Consider Skills and Expertise
Evaluate the skills and expertise of your maintenance team. Determine whether you have a well-rounded skill set that covers the diverse maintenance needs of your equipment and systems. Identify any specialised skill gaps that may require additional hiring or training. Consider the level of experience and certifications required for different types of maintenance tasks within your organisation.
6. Utilise Industry Benchmarks
Research industry benchmarks and standards to gain insights into technician-to-equipment ratios and maintenance staffing levels for similar organisations. While every organisation is unique, these benchmarks can provide a starting point for assessing your staffing needs and comparing them to industry norms.
7. Seek Employee Feedback
Involve your current maintenance technicians in the assessment process. Their insights and feedback can provide valuable information on workload, resource allocation, and potential areas for improvement. Engaging your technicians in this process also promotes a sense of ownership and collaboration.
8. Flexibility and Scalability
Consider the flexibility and scalability required in your maintenance operations. Evaluate whether your maintenance team can handle unexpected spikes in workload or if additional resources are needed to address sudden changes in demand.
9. Continuous Evaluation and Adjustment
Remember that assessing technician staffing levels is an ongoing process. Regularly review your maintenance operations, monitor key performance indicators, and make adjustments as needed. Adapt your staffing levels to accommodate changes in production, equipment upgrades, the use of technology or shifts in maintenance strategies.
By following these steps and carefully analysing your organisation's maintenance needs, workload, and available resources, you can make informed decisions about the right amount of maintenance technicians needed to ensure efficient and effective operations.
Need Help?
MCP have a wealth of experience in maintenance and productivity improvement. Maintenance teams are the hidden asset to the effectiveness and efficiency of any manufacturing plant. By engaging with you and your team we can support the department with all of the steps above. From benchmarking industry norms to analysing where time is wasted, to up-skilling and multi-skilling technicians.
Together we can formulate a plan to ensure that your maintenance department is staffed and skilled to the correct level to meet the everyday demands, as well as be prepared for changes in the future.
If you think you need more technicians, best speak to us first!
