Ahead of the Power Plant Operations & Maintenance Conference, we spoke with Johnny Howze, III, Plant Manager at Plant Scherer, Georgia Power about the challenges facing Plant Managers in sustaining long-term plant reliability and refining O&M strategies.
Johnny, what do you see as the single biggest challenge that Plant Managers face in sustaining long-term plant reliability? Why do you feel this is the biggest challenge?
The single greatest challenge in sustaining long-term reliability is managing operational and maintenance risk in a world of declining O&M spending. As several companies continue to deal with declining customer usage, dollars accessible to manage facilities are not accessible as in the past. Increasing revenue and sustaining net income growth is more of a challenge. This impacts plant budgets negatively.
Can you give an example of one creative solution you have used to increase reliability at Plant Scherer?
One creative solution we have used to improve teamwork and reliability simultaneously was moving some of our front-line leadership into different areas where their strengths could be used to educate and improve other areas of the plant. Several moves that we made to benefit the plant include swapping Operations and Fuels team leaders with the goal of improving safety, and communication between fuels and operations. Through their expanded leadership view, each group understands the business of all. It is easier to work through issues that arise that impact both. I’ve additionally seen a swap between Operations and Maintenance leadership. It’s always good to have a person on an Operations shift with a maintenance background since they understand how Operations impacts the Maintenance plan. It works the same on the other side. It makes the entire plant better since Operations and Maintenance can cooperate to be more efficient. This is critical in today’s world.
How has your plant culture changed after refining your O&M strategies?
Our plant culture has improved greatly over the last three years. Employees are more engaged in the plant and are asking questions about the bigger business. Examples include safety committee leadership and participation and more questions asked in business update meetings. Scherer teamwork is the best I’ve seen in my entire career. We have assembled a team of winners because our culture looks for accomplishments to achieve. People feel good about coming to work.
Tell us something interesting about you or your work that someone might not know by simply looking at your job description and biography?
Most would not know the love that I have for art and music from my job description and biography. I’m the guy who went to engineering school that realized I didn’t want to do calculations every day. However, leadership came a little easier to me due to the creativity from art and music that is required to positively impact people.
What do you hope to take away from the upcoming Power Plant Operations and Maintenance Conference?
I hope to take away new strategies and ideas that Scherer can hone so that Scherer can continue on the path of reliability excellence.
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Key Speakers Include:
Key Topics Include:
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Professionals attending the Power Plant Operations & Maintenance Conference will not only determine but will also execute best practices for undergoing operations and maintenance. Attendees will learn to safeguard budgets, to ensure total reliability, and to adapt to an ever-changing industry, all while maintaining safety and fostering a communicative work environment.
About the Conference
Johnny Howze III serves as plant manager for Georgia Power’s Plant Scherer in Juliette. In this role, he is responsible for providing overall leadership for operations of four coal-fired units that can produce 3,600 megawatts of electricity and provide electricity to power approximately 2.6 million homes.
Since joining Southern Company in 1990 as a summer student, Howze has progressed through various leadership positions, including serving as plant manager at Gulf Power’s Smith and Scholz plants, and several Georgia Power plants, including Branch, Warner Robbins and Wansley. Howze also served as assistant to the executive vice president of customer service & operations for Georgia Power. During this time, he served as a loaned executive with former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin’s administration.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Alabama and completed the executive MBA program at Kennesaw State University. Throughout his career, Howze has been active in the community, with such organizations as United Way and Bay County Chamber of Commerce, and two professional organizations – the National Society of Black Engineers and the American Association of Blacks in Energy. He serves on the advisory boards of the University of Alabama’s engineering department and the school’s Paul Jones collection of African American Art. He also serves on the board of directors of the Powder River Basin Coal User’s Group.
About the Speaker:
An interview with:
Johnny Howze, III
Plant Manager
Copyright © 2017 Marcus Evans, Inc.
Plant Scherer, Georgia Power
All rights reserved.
Speaker at:
Power Plant Operations & Maintenance
January 17-18, 2018 | Charlotte, NC
