The posting
Maintenance Planner HME
Role Purpose
The Maintenance Planner is responsible for developing, coordinating, and optimizing all preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance activities for mobile and fixed plant equipment within an iron ore mining operation. The role ensures work is well‑planned, materials are available, resources are scheduled effectively, and maintenance execution is aligned with production requirements to achieve maximum equipment availability and reliability.
Key Responsibilities
Planning & Scheduling:
- Develop weekly, monthly, and shutdown maintenance plans for:
- Mobile equipment (e.g., haul trucks, dozers, excavators, drills, graders).
- Fixed plant equipment (e.g., crushers, screens, conveyors, stackers, reclaimers, processing plant)
- Create detailed job plans including task sequences, duration, labour, tools, materials, and safety steps.
- Ensure plans comply with OEM recommendations, site standards, and statutory requirements.
- Prioritize work orders based on asset criticality, safety risk, and production impact.
- Coordinate isolation plans, permits, and access requirements prior to maintenance execution.
Work Management
- Review and screen work requests to ensure clarity and accuracy.
- Convert approved notifications into well‑structured work orders with complete task instructions.
- Maintain the maintenance backlog at acceptable levels and ensure aging work orders are addressed.
- Track the status of work orders from planning through execution and closure.
Material & Resource Coordination
- Identify and request required parts, spares, consumables, and special tools.
- Work with Supply Chain and Warehousing to ensure critical materials are procured and available ahead of schedule.
- Maintain accurate BOMs (Bills of Material) for key assets.
- Coordinate contractor support for shutdowns or specialized maintenance.
Shutdown & Major Maintenance Planning
- Develop comprehensive shutdown plans including Gantt schedules, manpower allocation, job packs, and risk assessments.
- Facilitate pre‑shutdown readiness reviews.
- Track progress during shutdown execution and adjust as necessary to meet critical milestones.
Data, Reporting & Continuous Improvement
- Maintain accurate data in the CMMS (e.g., SAP, Pronto, Infor EAM).
- Monitor maintenance KPIs such as:
- Asset availability
- Schedule compliance
- MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures)
- MTTR (Mean Time to Repair)
- Backlog levels
- Participate in root cause analysis (RCA) and defect elimination programs.
- Recommend improvements to maintenance strategies and planning processes.
Safety
- Ensure job plans include all safety requirements, PPE, permits, and isolation steps.
- Support safe execution of maintenance activities by providing high‑quality job packs with risk controls identified.
- Participate in safety audits, inspections, and toolbox talks where required.
Qualifications & Experience
Minimum Requirements
- Technical qualification in Mechanical, Electrical, or related Engineering discipline (Trade Test, National Diploma, or Degree).
- 3–5 years experience in maintenance planning, preferably in a mining or heavy-industrial environment.
- Strong practical understanding of mining equipment and processing plant maintenance.
- CMMS experience (SAP PM, Pronto Xi, or similar).
- Proficient in MS Excel, MS Project, and/or other scheduling tools.
Advantageous
- Previous experience in an iron ore mine.
- Exposure to reliability engineering principles (RCM, FMECA).
- Familiarity with Lean Maintenance or Continuous Improvement methodologies.
Skills & Competencies
Technical Skills
- Knowledge of preventive, predictive, and condition-based maintenance strategies.
- Ability to interpret engineering drawings, OEM manuals, and technical documentation.
- Strong understanding of workflow processes from notification planning scheduling execution close-out.
- Good understanding of asset management principles.
Behavioural Competencies
- Strong communication skills across maintenance, operations, and supply chain teams.
- Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced mining environment.
- Excellent organizational and time management skills.
- High attention to detail and quality of work.
- Proactive mindset with continuous improvement orientation.
Working Conditions
- Site-based role at an iron ore mine, working on a roster (7/3 rotation).
- Exposure to dust, noise, high temperatures, and heavy equipment.
- Occasional field inspections required on mobile and fixed plant areas.
- Must comply with all mine safety standards and PPE requirements.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Maintenance schedule adherence (%)
- Reduction in unplanned breakdowns
- Backlog compliance (age & volume)
- Equipment availability & reliability metrics
- Shutdown execution performance (time, cost, scope)
- Quality of job plans and work packs
- Safety performance (zero harm)
