Dairy: Interim shutdown manager

End of 2015, one of our partnership site shutdown manager resigned. The coming shutdown is only 3 months ahead and customer is giving huge pressure for an immediate replacement. It’s difficult to identified suitable candidate in such short notice. I had been assigned to take the role in interim basis.

Upon receiving the notice, I called my colleague from New Zealand who has been in this role for 5 years. Get good advice and identified the success factor for the position. Even though I had been highly involved on shutdown planning, but I don't want to take this lightly as it is a mission that failure is not an option.

Reach the site, 2 days after the notice and start the handover process as soon as possible. Be very polite and profession to get maximum cooperation from my predecessor. I also use a shutdown management evaluation tools as the checklist to avoid loopholes.

In this role, I need to discuss with the customer production team to finalize the shutdown duration and starting dates. Starting with getting a list of critical tasks from my team and required duration. Did some crosschecks and finalize the requirement, then I must sit with each production area to confirm the shutdown schedule. From the handover process, the advice is to start with critical areas that have less flexibility and it prove to be very helpful. On top of that I manage to visualize the time zone of water, steam and electricity outage for each area.

It is a huge coordination role. I need to compile information from all parties and make sure everyone communicates with their counterparts to avoid mistake. Keeping the information flow is much harder than you see, especially in a new environment but being proactive is the secret recipes for success. In the process, I learn to be a better listener and it is a very big change for me. It brings me to the next stage of leadership.

4 months later, new shutdown manager assigned, and I return to my site with handful of know-how and experience on shutdown management. Very soon after that the knowledge and process had successful duplicate to the new site which I station. It would not be that smooth implementation if I have no take up the challenge.