Cut overtime and idle time, and keep the lights on

UTILITIES

The challenge

Utilities straddle regulated, quasi-regulated and deregulated markets, and many still run on schedules built for a world where service could outweigh cost. Now they must balance both, under public scrutiny of rising costs and service levels. Flawed legacy schedules drive overtime and idle time, squeeze maintenance wrench time and stretch outages. And any schedule change lands on a workforce, often unionized and sometimes bruised by layoffs, that has to be part of the solution.

How we help

• Match capital and people to the actual workload to cut overtime and idle time at the same time

• Tighten the operations and maintenance interface and raise maintenance wrench time

• Plan crews to reduce the cost and time of planned outages and respond faster to unplanned ones

• Involve supervisors, employees and organized labor in the design, so the change becomes a morale booster instead of a fight

Typical results

• Conservatively, "$1 million of annual savings" from the most recent project, by matching capital and people to workload (PECO Energy letter (Support Services, Power Delivery Team))

• A repeat client: PECO has "worked with Coleman Consulting Group at multiple sites since 1994" (PECO Energy letter (Support Services, Power Delivery Team))

• "We easily saved a half-million dollars from changing supervisor schedules immediately" (Southern California Edison letter, Lawrence D. Hamlin, Vice President)

What clients say

...As you know, we have worked with Coleman Consulting Group at multiple sites since 1994. We have long since recognized you as the experts in shift scheduling, an area in which we have limited expertise. Your proven methodology has allowed the deployment of our capital and human resource to specifically match our workload, thereby reducing both overtime and idle time. Conservatively, our most recent project has resulted in $1 million of annual savings.

Craig L. Adams, Director, Support Services, Power Delivery Team, PECO Energy

The most notable characteristic of the Coleman Group is their ability and desire to work directly with the employees instead of just the management leaders. This 'roll up the sleeves' attitude separates Coleman from other consultant groups in that they don't just make observations and recommendations without themselves committing to follow through to educate, communicate and implement. I am pleased that we are able to push our objectives as a collaborative effort between employees, management and union leaders. Coleman doesn't shy away from the heat when pushback occurs and they are willing to answer the tough questions in front of the employees.

Carl L. Segneri, T&D Construction Manager, ComEd

Working with unions

"I am pleased that we are able to push our objectives as a collaborative effort between employees, management and union leaders." (Carl L. Segneri, T&D Construction Manager, ComEd) | /what-we-do/union-environments

Next step

Paying for overtime and idle time at the same time? Schedule a 30-minute workforce diagnostic.

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