Where this shows up

IT change processes are often run on a calendar that has nothing to do with production schedules, forcing plant teams to either push back on necessary changes or absorb disruption at the worst possible time. Without a shared view of maintenance windows, IT and operations end up negotiating change timing on an ad hoc basis.

How we approach it

• Map production-critical systems to their plant’s maintenance and downtime schedule.
• Build a shared change calendar visible to both IT and operations teams.
• Create expedited paths for changes that must happen outside a maintenance window, with appropriate risk sign-off.
• Set change freeze periods around critical production runs.

What changes

• Change activity scheduled around production, not against it
• Fewer disputes between IT and plant operations over timing
• Reduced unplanned downtime from poorly timed changes