Wrench Time Management

Effectively Boosting Utilization

Wrench Time is defined as the actual amount of time a craftsman spends performing value-added work. A Wrench Time Study, also known as a Work Sampling Study, aims to identify and subsequently eliminate or reduce the time spent on non-value-added tasks.

This metric is commonly used in maintenance, where supervisors spend considerable time handling shift handovers or breakdowns, delaying work allocation. In remote locations, paper-based work orders make it hard to assign tasks and track progress, leading to idle time for technicians and delays due to poor communication and lack of information.

"A Wrench Time Study is not focused on identifying inefficient personnel, mistakes, or poor performance. Instead, it examines the quality of the planning process and how effectively the organization utilizes it.”

Major Losses in Wrench Time

Work Execution: waiting on parts, waiting on someone, etc.

Delay in assigning a task to maintenance technician.

Lack of visibility on the availability of resources in the field.

Poor maintenance planning and inefficient scheduling.

Long idle time for technicians since supervisor need to review several paper documents and job cards before assigning work..

Delays in decision-making related to the use of paper-based information (no CMMS) or the lack of structured information.

Calculating Wrench Time

Our Solutions

Wrench Time Optimization Study: Develop a tailored wrench time optimization strategy.

Audits & Internal Controls Assessment: Assess controls and processes for Maintenance-related risks and testing of internal controls.

Benchmarking & Best Practice Implementation: Conduct a benchmarking study comparing your client's performance against industry standards and develop an action plan to close gaps.

Preventive and Maintenance Optimization: Develop a data-driven PM strategy using asset health data, failure rate analysis etc, to optimize maintenance and improve wrench time.

Technology & Digitalization Assessment: Evaluate current technology and recommend digital solutions like CMMS

Wrench Time Tracking and Reporting Framework: Develop a custom reporting framework to track wrench time.

Business Value

Business Value

1. Improved plant availability
2.  Reduced maintenance cost
3. High wrench time / time on tool
4. High resource utilization
5. Low MTBF
6. Low maintenance backlog
7. Maintenance personnel involvement in planning & scheduling
8. Systematic data allocation for quick and informed decisions
9. Faster resource allocation during unplanned breakdowns
10. Improved supervisor and technician productivity
11. Less corrective maintenance

Focus Industries

1. Manufacturing
2. Oil & Gas
3. Utilities (Electric, Water, Gas)
4. Transportation & Logistics
5. Aerospace & Aviation
6. Metal &  Mining
7. Construction
8. Automotive Repair
9. Shipbuilding & Marine
10. Telecommunications