Get the Buzz… A Small Crew, A Massive Impact
What began as a six-week assignment for a three-person crew became a more than two-year success story for the E&I team in Tennessee. Along the way, the team delivered 55,497.5 manhours, supported startup on 10 new LM6000 units, and achieved zero recordables and zero quality issues.
Why It Stands Out
The original scope was small. Early planning conversations in fall 2023 pointed to a short-term effort with just three E&I craft professionals. But as the project evolved, the scope expanded dramatically. The APM E&I team was called on to help correct thousands of manufacturer NCRs, support startup activities, and complete repairs after startup
The result: A team that stayed flexible, scaled up, and delivered on a complex and growing scope.
Safety Came First — Every Time
One of the defining moments on the project came when APM leadership responded to concerns raised by the field team and stopped all APM work until the site addressed those related safety issues. That decision sent a strong message to both the crew and the customer: safety is non-negotiable. It also influenced other crafts on site to elevate their own safety focus
That commitment carried into daily execution:
Work Authorization: Crews submitted work authorizations a day in advance to coordinate with other contractors and avoid hazards like crane lifts over active work areas.
Energy Isolation: Teams walked down LOTO daily and performed Live Dead Live checks before work began — and again after breaks, lunch, or material runs.
Live Electrical: During startup testing, qualified workers used the proper controls, insulated tools, and arc flash suits when working with energized systems.
Working at Heights: The crew maintained 100% tie-off while working in lifts and on the screenhouse.
Line of Fire: In tight work areas, teams regularly briefed body positioning, tool control, and material tie-off to reduce risk.
Quality That Speaks for Itself
On a project with thousands of manufacturer-related corrections and extensive startup support, the E&I team delivered something remarkable: not a single quality issue.
Bottom line: Zero quality issues on a job of this size and complexity is a major achievement.
People Made the Difference
At the height of the project, the E&I team included 37 craft professionals. Three superintendents were recognized for outstanding performance over the life of the job:
Jeremy Buehn
Christopher Leming
Anthony Greene
The project also created opportunities for growth and leadership development. Two employees stood out for their strong safety mindset, quality focus, and commitment to execution:
Anthony Greene joined APM in 2018 and built a reputation for ownership, safety, quality, and efficiency. His performance led to advancement from craft professional to foreman, and eventually into superintendent training.
Roland Walters joined APM E&I in spring 2024. His attention to detail in safety and quality earned recognition across the site, leading to advancement to foreman and approval for superintendent training.
Lessons For the Future
The team also identified practical ways to improve future outage execution:
Use dedicated storage conexes and break trailers to reduce time lost moving around the site.
Pre-approve local vendors for material needs to avoid delays from out-of-state sourcing.
The Takeaway
This outage is a strong example of what can happen when a team starts small, stays adaptable, and never compromises on safety or quality. Over more than two years, this crew met an expanding challenge head-on — and left behind a record of performance worth celebrating.