If outages or shutdowns are not well integrated and properly planned, scheduled and executed with precision, many different uncontrollable situations may develop, such as schedule delays, cost overruns, accidents and production losses. Outage Management therefore requires extensive cross-functional integration of representatives of all the functional areas that are involved.

Before planning an outage, consideration must be given to the impact on customers and how the outage or shutdown will affect them and the business itself.

During the planning stages, the consolidation of network improvements and repairs to associated plant, inventory capacities, long lead time procurement projections and skills availability should be considered.

The timing of the outage plays a major role and it may affect the company's sustained profit and the performance of the remaining plant.