Workforce challenges in the cement industry
Climate change, urbanization and globalization are the current challenges of the cement industry. Cement production, when steered towards more sustainable operations can be part of the solution, if we are able to continue the technological advancements.
The industry has already undergone a huge technological shift towards more automated procedures with advancements in manufacturing. But the technology has also brought on a degree of complacency with a mistaken belief that technology can fully mitigate the lack of skilled labor. The industry has struggled to acquire new talent do to factors such as an aging workforce and job losses from mergers and acquisitions.
Moreover, a lot of companies such as OEM’s (Original Equipment Manufacturer) also struggle to identify talent willing to travel to foreign destinations to oversee the installations. If a company does have the right personnel ready for departure, the challenge of staying compliant in an increasingly complex world becomes another challenge.
Working with Plant Supervision, you can expect:
- Global compliance and adherence to national legislation
- Detailed reporting in accordance with your guidelines
- Specialized personnel that fits your needs
- Service minded and hands-on approach.
- Compliance on all HSE matters
- Flexibility in complex projects
Assisting your cement project
Plant Supervision employs a large workforce of supervisors, engineers, site managers and technicians ready to be deployed to new projects around the world. They are up to date on the current advancements of the cement industry and possess the critical thinking and adaptability that is otherwise lacking due to the increasing automation in the sector.
Each member of our sales team comes from an engineering background, with extensive experience on production and construction sites across the world. The experience gives them unique insight into the possible challenges in the industry, allowing them to identify the right candidate(s) for your project.
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Leave HR and compliance issues to us
Our skilled back-office manages all HR and compliance tasks such as the procurement of VISAS, salaries, travel and accommodations. This means that whether you need to utilize our workforce or need assistance with deploying your own personnel, we can be an active partner for you. We take great pride in our agility and our capacity to tailor our services to your’ specific needs at every project stage.
Choosing Plant Supervision as your workforce provider or global mobility partner means access to a experienced team, ready to alleviate you of your labour barriers and assist you in reaching your project goals.
FAQ - Frequently asked questions
Yes. Our personnel have worked on rotary kilns in countries such as the UK, Germany, Spain, Portugal and Romania. Typical tasks include new kiln erection, kiln shell replacement, hot kiln alignment, adjustment of rollers and thrust, and replacement of inlet seals. We also cover the rest of the pyro line, including preheater, cooler, burner and kiln hood.
Yes. We have supplied personnel for ball mill projects in Germany, Ireland and Denmark, among other countries. The work ranges from installation and commissioning of new mills to large service tasks, gearbox overhauls and troubleshooting on existing mills
Yes. We have supervised installation, commissioning and troubleshooting of vertical roller mills for raw meal and cement grinding in the US, the UK, Turkey, Morocco and the Philippines, among others. In Liberia, our team has supported operation and maintenance of a grinding plant built around a Loesche LM24.2 mill. Discover case here.
Yes. We supply shutdown leads who plan and coordinate the mechanical, electrical and HSE work during annual stops and kiln shutdowns. In Denmark, for example, our people have acted as mechanical head of a yearly shutdown and as HSE responsible for a kiln shutdown. The lead can come alone or with supervisors and technicians, depending on the scope and length of the stop.
Yes. Our process specialists work on pyro lines and grinding circuits, where typical goals are stable kiln operation, lower fuel and power consumption, and consistent clinker and cement quality.
Yes. We supply supervisors for grinding and resurfacing of kiln tyres, support rollers and bearings, as well as alignment and adjustment of rollers and thrust. In Ukraine, our supervisor followed the resurfacing of kiln tyres and rollers from safety planning to completion. The result was improved kiln uptime and fewer production interruptions for the plant.
Case: Supervision of resurfacing of kiln tyres and rollers in Ukraine
Yes. We supply mechanical, electrical, civil and process supervisors for new plants as well as for extensions and upgrades of existing lines.
Yes. We provide engineers who represent you on site, follow up on the OEM’s or EPC contractor’s progress, quality and documentation, and report back to your project management. Assignments have included review of OEM designs on a greenfield cement plant in France, and mechanical, electrical and process audits of pyro lines in the US.
Our personnel are used to working alongside plant maintenance crews, CCR operators and OEM specialists, often on sites where production continues around them. They follow your reporting format and site rules. Before mobilization, we brief them on location-specific safety procedures, so they can start work without delaying your team.
Yes. Our assignments range from two-week shutdowns to commissioning periods of several months and start-up or maintenance contracts of a year or more. We agree rotation schedules with you and aim to keep the same people on your project across rotations, so you avoid repeated handovers.
Many cement projects take place in countries with demanding work permit and registration rules. Our global mobility team handles work permits, A1 certificates, payroll, taxation and insurance for every person we deploy. We can do the same for your own employees when you send them abroad.
Read more about how we handle compliance and global mobility anywhere in the world.
Contact us today
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