Essential Skills and Traits of Successful Maintenance Planners and Schedulers - Part 4: Earning Respect on the Plant Floor

Being a maintenance planner isn’t just about creating job plans and schedules—it’s about building trust and respect with the people who are going to carry out those plans. Technicians, supervisors, and other team members need to know you’ve got their back and that your plans aren’t just “good on paper” but actually workable in the real world. Here are five practical ways planners can earn respect on the plant floor.

1. Spend Time on the Floor (Not Just at Your Desk)

You can’t plan effectively if you’ve never seen the job site. Spending time on the floor shows technicians and supervisors that you care about their work environment and the challenges they are going to face when performing the work, so you want to get out there and make the very best plan possible.

• Example: Instead of just relying on reports, you visit the site where the pump replacement will happen. You see the tight access space firsthand and adjust your job plan accordingly.
• Why It Works: When the crew sees you making the effort to understand their workspace, they know you’re planning with their reality in mind—not just theory. If the first words out of technician's mouths when describing a planner is "desk jockey", we have a serious problem!

2. Ask for Input—and Actually Listen

You’re the planner, but the technicians are the ones turning wrenches. Their insights are invaluable.

• Example: Before finalizing a job plan, you ask a senior technician, “Hey, does this workflow make sense, or do you see any roadblocks I should adjust this job plan for?”
• Why It Works: When people see their expertise is valued, they’re more likely to trust and follow your plans.

3. Own Your Mistakes (And Fix Them Fast)

Everyone messes up, but the way you handle mistakes can either build or break trust.

• Example: You realize you missed an important work step in a recent job plan. Instead of ignoring it, you own up: “That was my oversight—I’ve corrected it, and I’ll double-check similar tasks going forward.”
• Why It Works: Admitting mistakes shows integrity and fixing them shows accountability—both essential for earning respect.

4. Follow Through on Your Promises

Nothing kills trust faster than empty promises. If you say you’ll do something, do it.

• Example: A supervisor asks for an extra inspection step to be included in the next job plan. You tell them, “Got it, I’ll add it and send the updated plan by tomorrow.” Then—you actually do it. When technicians have taken the time to provide you with feedback after a job, then you make sure that feedback gets edited on the job plan for next time!
• Why It Works: Reliability builds trust. When people know they can count on you, they’ll respect your plans.

5. Speak Their Language

You don’t need to be a master technician, but knowing some basic maintenance terms goes a long way.

• Example: Instead of saying, “That machine thingy needs fixing,” you say, “The actuator on the east-side hydraulic press needs recalibration.”
• Why It Works: Speaking their language shows respect for their expertise and makes communication smoother.

Final Thought: Respect Is Earned, Not Assigned

Respect isn’t something you get just because your job title says Planner. It’s something you earn through consistency, humility, and genuine effort. When you show technicians and supervisors that you value their time, expertise, and feedback, you become more than just someone handing them a schedule—you become a trusted partner in keeping the plant running smoothly. And that’s when the magic happens