Shutdowns and outages are some of the most high-pressure events in mining operations.

They’re complex, time-critical, and unforgiving. Every hour of downtime has a direct impact on production, and every misstep – whether it’s a missing permit, unavailable resource, or delayed task – can quickly escalate into costly overruns.

Yet many sites are still relying on disconnected tools, spreadsheets, and legacy scheduling systems that weren’t designed for the realities of shutdown execution.

At Schedule Work Mate (SWM), we’ve developed a better approach.

Introducing the Outage Planner Module – purpose-built to help mining operations plan, coordinate, and deliver shutdowns with greater clarity, control, and confidence.

Designed for the Realities of Mine Site Shutdowns

Shutdown planning in mining isn’t just about scheduling tasks – it’s about coordinating people, equipment, permits, and dependencies in a live, high-risk environment.

The Outage Planner Module brings all of this together in one connected platform, enabling teams to:

• Build and manage shutdown plans directly within SWM 
• Generate fully printable Gantt charts for field use 
• Identify and manage the critical path 
• Track milestones and real-time progress 

This creates a single, reliable source of truth – from planning in the office to execution on site.

No More MS Project or Workarounds

Many mining teams still rely on MS Project, often paired with manual import/export processes into maintenance systems.

This creates unnecessary friction:

• Version control issues 
• Delays in updating plans 
• Limited visibility for crews on the ground 

The Outage Planner Module removes this dependency entirely.

Planning happens where the work happens – inside SWM – eliminating clunky workflows and ensuring everyone is working from the same, up-to-date plan.

Plan the Work as It Actually Happens on Site

Shutdowns don’t fit neatly into standard work orders.

There are always additional activities – preparation, coordination tasks, inspections – that need to be captured.

SWM allows teams to:

• Add tasks outside of formal work orders 
• Include chores linked to existing work 
• Structure plans in a way that reflects real shutdown execution 

Nothing gets missed and plans better reflect how work is actually carried out in the field.

Full Visibility of People, Equipment and Materials

One of the biggest risks during a shutdown is misalignment between planned work and available resources.

With the Outage Planner Module, planners can:

• View crew and resource availability across teams 
• Track material readiness before work begins 
• Align schedules with real-world constraints 

This reduces downtime, prevents bottlenecks, and improves coordination across departments.

Built-In Safety and Permit Awareness

Safety is non-negotiable in mining – and shutdowns often involve high-risk activities.

The module enables planners to identify and manage requirements early, including:

• Confined space entry 
• Working at heights 
• Hot work 
• Isolation types (simple and complex) 
• Gas monitoring 
• Excavation and digging permits 

With configurable job tags, sites can tailor these requirements to their own safety systems – ensuring compliance is embedded in the plan, not added as an afterthought.

Clear Ownership and Team Coordination

Shutdown success depends on alignment across multiple crews and contractors.

SWM supports:

• Creation of teams and crew groupings 
• Ability to print Gantt charts by team, resource, or full shutdown plan 
• Clear accountability through defined outage leads 

This ensures everyone – from planners to supervisors to crews – understands what needs to be done and when.

Track Performance with S-Curve Forecasting

To help sites stay on track during execution, the Outage Planner Module introduces:

• S-curve forecasting to monitor planned vs actual progress 
• Better visibility into performance across the shutdown lifecycle 

This allows teams to identify delays early and take action before they impact the overall schedule.

Simplifying Shutdown Planning, Without Compromise

The Outage Planner Module isn’t about adding more complexity – it’s about removing it.

By consolidating planning, scheduling, and execution into a single platform, SWM enables mining operations to:

• Reduce administrative overhead 
• Improve planning accuracy 
• Increase confidence during shutdown delivery 

It’s a more practical, site-ready approach to outage planning.

Already Gaining Traction Across the Industry

We’ve already begun running live demonstrations with mining clients, showcasing how the Outage Planner Module fits into real shutdown workflows.

The response has been immediate – with our first purchase order already secured.

See It in Action

If you’re looking to improve shutdown performance, reduce risk, and gain better control over your planning process, the Outage Planner Module is built for you.

We’re currently booking MS Teams-based demonstrations.Get in touch for a free demo and see how Schedule Work Mate and the Outage Planner Module can transform your next shutdown.