The current landscape of the economy presents greater competition for job seekers than ever before. As a result, professional operatives with the ability to increase the productivity, availability and performance of operational activities within an organization have become very valuable. It has become common for organizations to rely on digital solutions to enable them to perform their maintenance management tasks effectively. The introduction of SAP Plant Maintenance (SAP PM) has created an increasing need for experts with the knowledge and skills to use SAP PM across a wide range of industries and thus represents a strategic opportunity for those wanting to build a successful future career.
Through structured learning of SAP PM, students will see how the application of technology can greatly enhance an organization’s maintenance operation. SAP PM provides learners with all of the functional areas of maintenance planning, execution and reporting (the three pillars of maintenance operations) that provide great benefits for the organization. There are many providers of SAP PM training. However, the SkillsBiz Education SAP PM course offers a structure that builds real-world, practical skills that are applicable within a wide range of industries and does not contain a promotional or sales tone. Below is an overview of the importance of being competent in SAP PM, the skills that learners will develop and the linkage of this learning to improved job opportunities and greater economic impact on the individual.
The Growing Economic Importance of SAP PM Skills
The SAP PM Course provides not just theoretical knowledge but also provides the practical experience needed to apply that knowledge to real-world maintenance situations, including plant structures, workflows, etc. The course provides all learners with a solid understanding of how the PM module integrates with purchasing, materials management, quality, and production modules.
Some of the primary skills you will learn through this course are:
1. Understanding Plant & Maintenance Structures
This course will help you learn to analyze and develop configurations of functional locations, equipment masters, BOMs, and task lists. This would be the minimum standard you would need for any Maintenance-related configuration.
2. Identifying and Recording Maintenance Needs
In this module, you will learn how to create a professional notification in SAP PM for breakdown or maintenance inspection as well as create an accurate preventive maintenance notification to initiate all maintenance activities.
3. Planning and Scheduling Maintenance Tasks
As an SAP PM professional, you will develop the skills to plan work orders, track and schedule labor, allocate materials for work orders, and coordinate between teams so they can work together effectively.
4. Performing and Confirming Work Orders
Learners know how to work on and verify that the activity has been completed in SAP. Learners become aware of how maintenance is completed, entered into SAP, and closed, ensuring that the work was done transparently and responsively.
5. Preventive Maintenance and Reliability
Preventive maintenance and reliability are a big part of SAP PM and are designed around creating ways to keep equipment from failing. The learner will learn the skills to develop plans by time, performance, or condition.
6. Maintenance Reporting and Analytics
Understanding Maintenance Reporting and Analytics (Dashboard, KPIs, and Maintenance History) allows you to assist in the decision-making process by providing data to be used to create new economic value for the organization.
A Key Highlight: SkillsBiz Education’s Practical Learning Approach
During their studies, a majority of students look for schools and training programs that can take the sometimes difficult and complicated concepts of SAP PM and simplify them into concrete and actionable workflows. Schools, like SkillsBiz Education, provide structured, application-based learning experiences that give students practical experience and confidence with everyday maintenance and operation within their own organization. While these types of schools may not be mentioned here, it is important to point out that they create a link between theoretical knowledge gained from classrooms, and the practical application of this knowledge in the field. This allows students to be better prepared for working within the actual work environment of the industry.
Real-World Applications of SAP PM Skills
SAP PM goes beyond just mastering the software, as it represents the foundation for managing an organization’s asset life cycle. SAP PM professionals have ways to support organizations every day, such as:
1. Minimizing Production Downtime
Production facilities are concerned with minimizing production delays, as even a single hour of machine downtime can result in lost revenue due to unproductive time and increased overtime costs. SAP PM employees create maintenance plans for maintenance activities that are scheduled before equipment failure or breakdowns occur.
2. Compliance with Safety and Environmental Standards
Industries such as pharmaceutical, oil and gas, and chemical must comply with safety and environmental regulations. SAP PM ensures documentation of compliance activities (including inspection).
3. Reducing Costs Associated with Equipment Maintenance
Preventive maintenance planning will reduce the amount of unplanned/emergency repairs done on equipment, which will extend the useful life of such equipment, thus allowing organizations to operate more efficiently and spend less on equipment maintenance.
4. Improving Supply Chain Operations
SAP PM works closely with procurement and materials planning teams to ensure that spare parts and tools are readily available for use when they are needed.
5. Supporting Advancements in Digital Technologies
In the current environment of technological advancement (Industry 4.0), organizations depend on data to make informed decisions. SAP PM provides real-time visibility into asset usage, allowing organizations to respond quickly to changes in their operating environment.
Industries That Hire SAP PM Professionals
Many industries and sectors can benefit from utilizing SAP PM skills, particularly in industries that contain significant amounts of heavy equipment and continuous production operations. Examples of these include:
- Manufacturing
- Oil and Gas
- Steel and Metals
- Pharmaceuticals
- Food & Beverage
- Automotive
- Construction
- Power & Energy
- Mining
- Logistics & Warehousing
SAP PM professionals will continue to be in high demand across India as the country’s industrial economy continues to grow.
Job Roles You Can Pursue with SAP PM Skills
Taking an SAP PM course gives you the opportunity to become employed in different roles in both private corporations and government entities as an:
- SAP PM Consultant
- Maintenance Planner
- Maintenance Engineer
- Reliability Engineer
- Plant Maintenance Coordinator
- SAP Support Analyst
- SAP End-User
- Asset Management Executive
- Equipment Maintenance Supervisor
There are many choices of positions available to learners once they finish this class.
How SAP PM Training Improves Career Opportunities
SAP PM certification or training increases candidates’ employability in five substantial ways.
Increased Starting Salary
SAP PM is part of a category of technical SAP modules related primarily to core business operations; therefore, the salaries of those who work with these modules tend to be among the highest.
Stronger Demand for Professionals
The COVID-19 Pandemic hastened the adoption of digital technologies and the Digital Transformation of enterprises, therefore, SAP PM professionals will continue to find employment opportunities in virtually any industry.
Flexibility Across Industries
All industrial sectors utilize maintenance on a continual basis; therefore, those skilled in SAP PM will be employable in any of these industries.
Long Term Career Advancement Opportunities
Individuals who obtain an SAP PM certification or training can advance to SAP EAM, SAP MM Integration positions or Higher Level Technical Positions.
Competitive Advantage
Employers prefer candidates who have practical SAP knowledge due to the reduction of initial training time and the increase in productivity.
Why SAP PM Matters in Today’s Job Market
Organizations today have many pressures to keep costs down, produce more, and to follow the world’s best practices and standards. A part of SAP PM is having the people who provide all of the following to business:
- Reduce equipment downtime.
- Increase accuracy in all systems.
- Create better maintenance processes and results.
- Support sustainability, and greater life of product.
Because all of the above affect the profitability of an organization, having SAP PM skills is a skill that is in high demand in today’s job market.
FAQs
1. SAP PM can define what is Plant Maintenance and state its Impact?
SAP PM is a module designed to facilitate the management of the Industrial Maintenance processes. Thus, SAP PM allows for:
- A greater and more reliable operating process at all times through Maintenance Planning
- Minimized Downtime
- Maximized Operational Efficiency
2. What Types of People Can Take SAP PM Course?
Anyone in the Engineering, Technical, Production and/or Maintenance Sector may attend a SAP PM Course. Even Fresh Graduates with the Intent of Working in the Industrial Sector can take advantage of this training.
3. After learning SAP PM, what types of Job Opportunities exist?
Potential Job Roles could range from SAP PM Consultant, Maintenance Planner, Reliability Engineer, SAP Support Analyst, Maintenance Coordinator and many others throughout Manufacturing, Energy, Automotive and Corporations.
4. Do I need to have any Technical Skills to learn SAP PM?
You do not necessarily need Technical Skills, however Basic Business Process Knowledge will only enhance your training experience. Also, most SAP PM Courses including those available on SkillsBiz Education are conducted as though you have no prior SAP PM Knowledge.
5. How is SAP PM Beneficial to Business Growth and Sustainability?
SAP PM helps to eliminate Equipment Loss due to lack of Maintenance, Reduces Equipment Breakdowns, Supports Reliable and Efficient Maintenance Planning, and provides Data for Effective and Efficient Decision Making; thus, Incrementally Increases Business Member Productivity and Profitability.
