Client Background

A major utility company in Louisiana scheduled a critical 21-day outage at their coal-fired power generation facility. The plant required comprehensive turbine and pump maintenance to ensure continued reliable operations. With every day of downtime costing the utility over $1M in lost revenue and purchased power costs, precise execution was essential.

The Challenge

Power plant outages present unique staffing and technical challenges that can significantly impact timelines and costs:

  • Specialized Expertise Required: Finding millwrights with specific turbine alignment experience and power generation facility knowledge.
  • Time-Critical Execution: Managing a strict 21-day window where each day of delay costs over $1M.
  • Safety Compliance: Ensuring all personnel meet stringent safety certifications for high-risk industrial environments.
  • Technical Precision: Requiring laser alignment capabilities and specialized equipment expertise for turbine work.

The Solution

Advastar delivered a comprehensive staffing solution tailored to the utility’s outage requirements:

  • Certified Millwright Team: Deployed 25 certified millwrights with proven power plant outage experience.
  • Safety and Technical Credentials: All personnel held current OSHA and NCCER certifications, with specialized turbine precision alignment training.
  • Critical Task Execution: Supported turbine disassembly, inspection, and laser alignment; pump and compressor rebuilds; and conveyor system repairs.
  • Rapid Mobilization: Assembled and deployed the full crew within 72 hours of contract signing.

The Outcome

Advastar’s specialized staffing solution delivered measurable results for the utility client:

  • On-Time Completion: Outage completed within the critical 21-day window, avoiding costly delays.
  • Perfect Safety Record: Achieved zero safety incidents among all Advastar crew members throughout the project.
  • Technical Excellence: Successfully completed all turbine alignments to manufacturer specifications on first attempt.
  • Long-Term Partnership: Client engaged Advastar for all future scheduled outages based on demonstrated performance.