Drawing on years of project management expertise, Timenow answers the most common questions about challenges, technologies, and best practices in asset management in the pulp and paper industry. Explore how Timenow’s tailored, collaborative approach can deliver measurable results for your team and your mill.
Q1. What are the challenges for Asset Management in the context of pulp and paper mills, and how is Timenow involved?
Asset management in pulp and paper mills is not necessarily difficult when the right tools and methodologies are applied. The paper manufacturing process is highly demanding on equipment, exposing assets to aggressive operating conditions that accelerate wear and increase the risk of failures. In this context, effective lifecycle management plays a critical role, not only in maximizing equipment uptime but also in preventing quality defects in the final product. By applying best practices in reliability engineering and modern asset management methodologies, Timenow supports mills in optimizing performance, extending asset life, and ensuring safer and more efficient operations.
Q2. How are AI, IIoT, Machine Learning, and Big Data impacting Asset Management in pulp and paper mills, and how is Timenow leveraging them?
AI, IIoT, Machine Learning, and Big Data are transforming asset management by enabling predictive maintenance, data-driven decisions, and better lifecycle planning.
For pulp and paper mills, these technologies provide the ability to monitor assets in real time, capture large volumes of operational data, and apply advanced analytics to detect early signs of wear, misalignment, or process deviations. By anticipating failures before they occur, mills can plan interventions proactively, significantly reducing unplanned downtime and associated costs. In addition, predictive insights not only extend equipment life but also safeguard product quality by ensuring stable operating conditions.
Timenow integrates these technologies into solutions like EAM/CMMS implementation, iRoutes for digital inspections, and TimeConnect for STO planning and communication—helping mills improve reliability, efficiency, and compliance with standards like ISO 55000.
Q3. Why are generational shifts and the shortage of skilled workforce hitting asset management so hard in pulp and paper mills, and how does Timenow help?
Today, information is more accessible than ever, and industries operate in an environment that is faster, more connected, and often supported by artificial intelligence to manage assets effectively. Timenow is embedded across multiple sectors of the industry, leveraging this connected world to provide clients with updated and competitive solutions. Our focus is on technologies capable of gathering information from different sources and transforming it into actionable strategies. Beyond technology itself, Timenow prioritizes the creation of clear procedures, standardized processes, and easy-to-execute practices—ensuring consistent performance that does not rely solely on individual technical expertise.
Timenow helps clients address this by digitizing inspections, capturing and sharing knowledge through unified platforms, and introducing phased EAM/CMMS systems with training and support. Tools like Time Connect streamline STO planning, while proactive strategies such as RCM and ISO 55000-aligned risk management ensure resilience despite limited staff.
Q4. What specific services does Timenow offer under the Asset Management umbrella for pulp and paper clients?
Timenow delivers a full spectrum of asset management services designed to help pulp and paper mills plan smarter, reduce downtime, and improve reliability.
At the strategic level, this includes asset management strategy implementation, RAM and criticality analysis, STO planning with the Time Connect platform, risk management, compliance with ISO 55000, and operational readiness for new plants.
On the execution side, Timenow provides EAM/CMMS implementation, asset hierarchy structuring, data migration, preventive and proactive maintenance strategies (including RCM), and user training. Proprietary tools further digitize inspections for real-time insights and accuracy. Together, these services transform outages and maintenance into a strategic advantage.
Q5. Annual outages are high-impact, risk-prone interventions in pulp and paper plants. How is Timenow’s expertise in project management a game changer?
Annual outages in pulp and paper plants carry enormous risks, with unplanned downtime costing $80,000–$150,000 per hour. Many mills still rely on reactive maintenance, creating ghost assets, premature replacements, and higher emergency repair costs. Timenow’s expertise in asset management changes this dynamic by applying proactive, data-driven strategies that reduce unplanned downtime by up to 35%, extend asset lifecycles by 20%, and generate up to $500,000 in annual maintenance savings. Through services like RAM analysis, STO planning, and ISO 55000-aligned risk management, Timenow ensures outages are managed with precision and turned into opportunities for reliability and long-term value.
In one case, their asset management-led approach to reactivating a hibernated plant saved $100 million by aligning CAPEX planning with risk and performance goals. By treating asset management as the foundation—not an afterthought—Timenow transforms outages from costly interruptions into strategic advantages.
Q6. How does Timenow collaborate with internal maintenance and reliability teams at the mill?
Timenow collaborates as a partner to strengthen mill maintenance and reliability teams, using Reliability-Centered Maintenance (RCM) as the foundation. Through tools such as FMEA, RCFA, criticality analysis, and reliability modeling, we help identify risks, understand asset behavior, and build effective maintenance strategies that prevent failures and improve operational performance.
A central element of this partnership is the structuring of complete asset hierarchies and the optimization of CMMS/EAM systems. This provides teams with accurate data, standardized maintenance routines, and the ability to shift from reactive to preventive and predictive approaches.
To ensure long-term sustainability, Timenow also delivers training, clear procedures, and standardized processes that make execution simpler and less dependent on individual expertise. For leadership, we bring transparency through KPIs and planning tools that align asset management with business objectives.
By combining proven methodologies, digital solutions, and knowledge transfer, Timenow enables mills to increase uptime, extend equipment life, and improve overall reliability.
Q7. How does pricing work for asset management projects with Timenow?
Every project is priced based on the client’s unique operational needs. Factors like scope (from targeted optimizations to full-scale EAM/CMMS implementations), plant size, project timelines, and the level of team involvement all shape the investment. The use of digital tools along with specific goals like improving reliability, compliance, or downtime reduction, also influence cost.
What makes Timenow stand out is the assertiveness of our solutions: by applying proven methodologies with precision, we deliver faster and more accurate results, which ultimately makes projects more cost-effective. We count on proprietary technologies developed in-house that not only optimize local workforce performance but also enable the use of remote resources—drastically reducing implementation and maintenance costs for the latest asset management practices.
Over the years, Timenow has built numerous success stories worldwide, including in the United States, and we are always happy to share our history and results with new clients. Our focus is to ensure that every solution is tailored, competitive, and capable of generating measurable returns.
Curious what a tailored solution would look like for your mill?
Timenow’s team can walk you through it.