Interface between Plant Engineering and Management and Other Departments

Though plant engineering is concerned with the restoring of machine condition and preventing the failures, yet it has relation with each and every department of the organisation. Right from gang man (gm) to General Manager (GM), every employee of the organisation needs the assistance of plant engineering services at one or the other time.

• Plant Engineering Management (PEM) is related to production departments very closely in many aspects, in fact, it's very purpose of establishment is for the production departments such as erection, installation, commissioning, overhauls, lubrications, preventive maintenance, shifting of the machinery, updating and providing utilities like air, water, air conditioning, etc. repair, reconditioning and up keeping.
• PED interacts with PPC to plan the maintenance schedules so that they will not clash with production schedules. It also reports the cost of maintenance, spares and utilities or services, etc.
• PED raises its budget requirements in the beginning of the financial year and reports the cost of spares, utilities, day-to-day activities, etc. regularly or periodically to finance or/and accounts department.
• It has a relation with personnel department with reference to the wages, time office, welfare and disciplinary measures apart from the recruitment and training. Often PE looks after the safety engineering activities and it involves the personnel department for compensations and other related benefits.
• In connection with the work measurement, incentives and Target-fixing, etc. the PEM seeks the help of Industrial engineering department (IED). Perhaps, it may look strange if it is stated that the IED seeks the help of PEM, but it is the truth that IED requires the information about knowing if there is any chance of enhancing the production on a machine or revising the targets in relation with the condition of machine and the effect of reconditioning on productivity, etc.
• Purchase department, materials department and stores are coordinated by PED in case of procurement of spares, tools, consumables, oils and gases, etc. Usually a store will be managed by PED itself, with the inventory generally referred to as M-R-O (Maintenance-Repair-Operating) inventories. However the Production Planning and Control (PPC) will generally coordinate with the purchase department and PED in procurements in most of the medium to large-scale industries.
• PED will contact and develop outside parties also to recondition to solve major problems, which cannot be solved by internal personnel due to inadequate facilities or skill or knowledge, etc. It also keeps in contact with the OEM to seek their help in trouble shooting especially in warrantee/guarantee period. Sometimes this will be done for updating of machinery with the latest technology also.
• It keeps in touch with material suppliers for spare part management and with the departments connected with the utilities like electricity board, telecom department, water works department, etc.
• PED is sought for the help by each and every department of the organisation for failures of their office equipment such as fans, air conditioners, intercommunication telephones, electricity, etc. including the street lights within the organisation premises.