The Dow Chemical Company, a global leader in the chemical industry, operates one of its largest complexes outside the U.S. in Terneuzen, Netherlands. This site features three massive crackers that process LPG and naphtha into hydrocarbons like ethylene, propylene, and benzene. These substances are critical for the production of various plastics across other Dow factories.
Age Balt, the EMEAI Maintenance Productivity Leader, oversees maintenance for Dow’s European locations, including Terneuzen. He tells us: “My team is multidisciplinary and handles minor disruptions as well as preventive, corrective, and project-based maintenance. We are also responsible for major maintenance events, which occur every eight years, requiring extended shutdowns of the squatters.”
To enhance efficiency, Dow partnered with Emixa to create customized training programs and train maintenance planners in optimal SAP usage. This tailored training significantly boosted the planners' efficiency and productivity, marking a crucial step towards more effective planned maintenance through advanced SAP utilization and well-trained people.