Courses / Module 1 / Planning

Maintenance Strategy and Task List

Safety: Educational overview only. Always follow your site's procedures, permits and applicable regulations.

Module 1 Est. 3.5 h · estimated

Lesson 2 of 9Process step: PlanningAudience: Mechanical + I&EPrerequisites: Lesson 1 (or equivalent experience)

You'll be able to

Explain what a maintenance strategy and its packages do
Build a task list with operations assigned to packages
Explain where a safety instrumented function (SIF) proof-test interval comes from

Why it matters in the plant

The strategy and task list decide what work comes due, and when. If they are wrong, every order generated from them is wrong. For safety functions, the interval is a safety requirement, not a preference.

In this lesson

Define the maintenance strategy IP11IP12
Build the task list IA05IA06IA01IA11
Set the SIF proof-test interval

Common mistakes

Setting a proof-test interval from habit: the safety function may not meet its requirement. Use the PFDavg-based interval [S6].
Two packages fall due on the same date and the wrong one wins: the hierarchy wasn't set deliberately. Check the package hierarchy [S1][S2].

Steps and transactions

Each step pairs the planning work with the transactions you'll use. Codes link to the reference.

1Define the maintenance strategy

A maintenance strategy sets the rules for the sequence of planned work. You can assign it to as many task lists and maintenance plans as you need. A strategy is made of packages, and each package has a cycle length, unit, hierarchy and offset. The hierarchy decides which package wins when two fall due on the same date. The offset sets a package's first due date. Units can differ (months, years), but they must share one dimension (for example, time).

Craft notes

Mechanical: the pump uses packages such as 1M/3M/6M. I&E: see Step 3.

Sources [S1] SAP Help, Maintenance Strategy; [S2] SAP Learning, Using Maintenance Plans

2Build the task list

A task list is a series of maintenance activities. It standardizes recurring work and saves time when you create orders and plans. It can be specific to one equipment or functional location (FL), or general for many objects of the same type. In the header, set the planning plant, planner group and strategy. On each operation, set the work center, time required and components (spares and materials). Put all of an equipment's operations in one task list and assign each operation to a package.

Craft notes

Mechanical: vibration and lubrication checks go on short packages, and bigger jobs on longer ones. The pump details are illustrative and have no source.

Sources [S3] SAP Learning, Using Maintenance Task List; [S4] SAP Community, strategies and plans

3Set the SIF proof-test interval

A proof test is a periodic test that finds dangerous hidden failures in a safety instrumented system (SIS), so a repair can restore it to as-new condition, or as close as practical. This is the IEC 61511 definition, quoted via [S5]; the standard itself was not read. The interval is set with the average probability of failure on demand (PFDavg) calculation. Partial testing, such as testing the transmitter alone, is often accepted if every part of the function is verified through individual tests. Only the parts actually tested are credited. Take the interval from the safety requirements, not from habit.

Craft notes

I&E only: the pressure transmitter in a SIF.

Sources [S5] IChemE paper 67; [S6] Emerson proof-testing paper; [S7] SINTEF PDS guideline (2021)

Templates for this lesson

Check your understanding

Questions

What decides which package wins when two fall due on the same date?
Where does a proof-test interval come from?
When does a partial test of a SIF get credit?

Answers and scoring are included in the full course.

Keep going with the full course

12 modules for Mechanical and I&E planners, with templates, quizzes and a certificate of completion.

This certificate confirms completion of a course from The Planner's Bench. It is not a professional license, accreditation, or SAP certification, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by SAP SE or any employer.

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