The most critical time frames for shutdown and turnaround projects in the oil & gas, petrochemical, power generation, manufacturing, heavy industries, etc., are at or near their time limit.
These types of projects usually include: Maintenance, repairs, inspections, upgrades, replacement of equipment, etc., and that should be completed in a short time frame; since the more days a project is delayed, the more money is lost on production, and the more money is spent on operational costs.
In order to complete shutdown and turnaround projects, many additional skilled workers need to be mobilised quickly and on very short notice; therefore, bulk hiring is a major part of these projects’ planning process.
Dynamic Staffing Services specialises in assisting employers with rapidly securing skilled labour and manpower to minimise delays and cost overruns associated with shutdown and turnaround projects.
Understanding Shutdown Hiring Needs
The recruitment needs to carry out shutdown and turnaround projects differ greatly from the usual way in which companies recruit employees.
During shutdown and turnaround projects, companies are often required to hire hundreds of employees in a short time frame who will possess the technical and experienced qualifications necessary to safely and efficiently carry out specific tasks.
Some common positions that are typically required for shutdown work are:
- Welders
- Pipefitters
- Mechanical Technicians
- Electricians
- Instrumentation Technicians
- Scaffolders
- Riggers
- Fabricators
- Equipment Operators
- Supervisors
Unlike other types of work, the type of work performed during shutdown periods must be completed within a specified timeframe. If a workforce cannot be mobilised in a timely manner, the entire maintenance schedule may be affected.
Therefore, it is imperative to have timely and effective workforce planning.
Challenges in Bulk Hiring
Bulk hiring for shutdown and turnaround projects can present many challenges for companies.
Some of the challenges include:
Limited Timeframes
Shutdown projects typically operate under tight deadlines, and companies cannot afford to experience delays when sourcing and mobilising workers.
High Demand for Skilled Workers
Due to the high volume of simultaneous projects occurring in many industries, there is a competitive market for experienced workers.
Skill Verification Requirements
Most technical positions require verifiable, applicable technical training and experience to ensure workers can perform their jobs safely and in an efficient manner.
Documentation and Compliance
Recruiting internationally requires a variety of documentation before employment, including work permits, visa processing, employment documentation and safety certifications. This is a time-consuming process.
Workforce Coordination
When mobilising large workforces, each worker must arrive at the correct location (job site) at the correct time; potential delays can become costly to the project.
Step-by-Step Hiring Strategy
Here is how to develop your own step-by-step hiring plan so you have the right number of workers with the right skillset for your project while minimising all the risks associated with the hiring process.
Step 1: Identify Your Workforce Needs
You need to identify how much manpower you’ll need for your project before you can hire anyone.
Employers should decide:
- How many workers do they need
- Skills needed
- Timeframe of the project
- When will the workers be utilised
The more clarity to your plan, the more efficient your recruitment process will become.
Step 2: Start Recruiting Early
This will help prevent a last-minute ‘mad dash’ to find workers.
Once you have begun your recruitment early enough, you will also have time to:
- Source candidates
- Assess their skills
- Prepare documentation
- Plan their mobilization
Step 3: Verify Skills
Trade testing and skill verification will assist employers in ensuring each worker has the necessary skill set to provide quality work on the project.
This will lower safety risks associated with the project and provide for increased productivity throughout the project. When safety is the priority, ensuring you onboard highly qualified, skilled tradesmen is the most effective safeguard against operational errors.
Step 4: Complete All Documentation
Be prepared and have all documentation completed before you try to bring workers on-site at the time of the project.
Step 5: Coordinate Worker Mobilisation
Employers need to have all travel, accommodation and site access arrangements made before the commencement of the project.
Timeline Planning
The timing of shutdown projects has a large impact on the success of the project.
3-6 Months Prior to Shutdown:
- Determine workforce requirements
- Work schedules are finalised
- Recruitment Partners are engaged
2-4 Months Prior to Shutdown:
- Source candidates
- Conduct Trade testing
- Verify documentation
1-2 Months Prior to Shutdown:
- Complete visa processing
- Finalize deployment schedules
- Confirm workforce readiness
Project Mobilisation Phase
- Deploy workers
- Complete onboarding
- Begin project execution
If they put together a proper timeline, the employer can reduce any last-minute issues with hiring and protect the productivity of the assets during execution. An experienced project manager who has experience with rapid-track working in heavy industry for heavy construction projects would be responsible for overseeing each phase of the execution process.
Dynamic Staffing Services Bulk Hiring Solution
With the leadership of Major S. P. Khosla and the support of a network of 250+ recruitment professionals, Dynamic Staffing Services has built strong expertise in international workforce solutions. Dynamic Staffing Services understands how urgent and complex shutdown and turnaround projects can be.
We have designed our Workforce Solutions to assist employers with the rapid acquisition of skilled manpower, whilst ensuring that the quality and compliance standards are met.
Sourcing Talent
We have a large pool of talent networks across a variety of different industries and trade skills to be able to identify the best candidates for shutdown requirements quickly.
Trade Testing and Assessment of Skills
We perform practical assessments of workers to ascertain their ability to perform the work prior to deployment. This allows the employer to reduce the risk when hiring, as well as improve overall project results.
Screening and Verification
Our recruitment process includes the following components to ensure the reliability and quality of the shortlisted workforce:
- Verification of Experience
- Criminal Background Check
- Document Verification
- Reference Check
Document Support
We provide support to employers for:
- Employment Documents
- Visa Processing
- Workforce Paperwork
- Mobilization Requirements
Compliance Management
We help and assist our clients in ensuring compliance with recruitment and workforce regulations.
Bulk Deployment of Workforce
Whether you need 50 employees or 500 employees for a project, DSS has the experience and the ability to handle large volumes of recruitment and deployment.
Workforce Planning Proficiency
We will work with you to ensure you have an appropriate supply of workforce to match project schedules, which will give you the assurance of reducing delays and disruption to operations.
Becoming a trusted partner of the client workforce is our objective, and we provide support toward the successful execution of projects.
Keep Your Shutdown Project on Schedule
To sum up, turnaround and shutdown projects are very limited in the number of hiring mistakes that can be made. The only thing that matters is having the right people at the right time. Employers use a well-structured bulk hire strategy to prevent delays and lower risk while also providing productive resources throughout the duration of the project.
At Dynamic Staffing Services, we provide recruitment, workforce planning, and workforce placement expertise to assist you in securing the skilled labour required to meet your shutdown project deadline.
If you are planning a shutdown/turnaround project in the near future, please reach out to the workforce specialists at Dynamic Staffing Services to assist you in obtaining the necessary skilled labour. Please contact us at clientservices@dss-hr.com.
Dynamic Staffing Services provides dependable bulk hiring solutions for clients who want to ensure the successful, efficient, and safe execution of their shutdowns.
FAQs
What is the reason for bulk recruitment on shutdown projects?
Shutdown projects need large numbers of workers in short timeframes. Therefore, bulk recruitment provides a means to supply an adequate workforce and helps mitigate the potential for delay.
What are the common roles hired for turnaround projects?
The most common roles are welders, pipefitters, electricians, scaffolders, riggers, technicians and equipment operators.
When do companies begin their recruitment for shutdown projects?
Ideally, recruitment should begin 3-6 months prior to the project’s start date in order to allow enough time for sourcing, testing, documenting and deploying workers.
How does Dynamic Staffing Services verify a worker's skills?
Dynamic Staffing Services verifies workers' skills by conducting trade testing, skill assessments, experience verification and document checks prior to deploying the worker.
Can Dynamic Staffing Services help with large volumes of manpower?
Yes. Dynamic Staffing Services provides specialised services for bulk recruiting and workforce deployment, including assistance with major industrial, oil and gas and infrastructure projects.
How does workforce planning decrease risk on projects?
Proper workforce planning will ensure workers are available when needed, which reduces recruitment delays and increases overall productivity, which allows projects to be completed on time.
