About Asset Performance Networks (AP-Networks)
AP-Networks was built on the idea that the best practices in heavy industry were out of reach for the overwhelming majority of firms. Our founders, George DeBakey Jr. and Brett Schroeder, formed AP-Networks to provide those firms with the tools and services they needed to implement those practices across a site or across an entire company. Over two decades, AP-Networks has worked with hundreds of clients on thousands of capital project and STO events — and with every new event, our databases have grown. Today, we deploy the latest cloud-based platforms, artificial intelligence/machine learning technologies, and maintain the world’s largest dataset around capital projects and STOs in industry.
About AP-Learning Systems (APLS)
AP-Learning Systems provides innovative training resources for future and existing maintenance and project planners, schedulers, project control analysts, and any other professional whose job requires understanding or executing planning functions. Our seasoned practitioners have designed a unique online series of industry best-practice training programs that formalize and set industry standards for the skills and competencies required to progress and succeed in their professional careers. From the person who is just entering this field to the seasoned planners who are looking for a certification of their skills and competencies, we have the perfect training level for you.
AP-Learning Systems is the training division of Asset Performance Networks (AP-Networks). It was created to fulfill the need to have proficiency-level certificate programs for professions that do not have industry standards to measure the qualifications required to complete their job requirements. The industry standards in our certificate programs are based on years of industry Best Practices data collection across multiple capital-intensive industries, technology innovations, and market needs. By defining these industry standards:
- Owner companies can assess the skills and abilities that future hires bring to the table and improve the qualifications of their personnel.
- Trained professionals can quickly acquire or complement their capabilities and hence have their opportunities and compensation aligned to their skill level providing clear career advancement opportunities.
Our goal is to provide focused training programs that speed up the learning curve by leveraging the expertise of subject matter experts with extensive industry hands-on experience, optimizing the use of leading industry digital tools and technology, and implementing multiple learning and development techniques that are designed to adjust to different learning styles.
Our current focus is on Planning. Scheduling, Cost Controlling, and Turnaround Management level-based training programs will follow. These programs will provide, in a concise timeframe, focused content that would otherwise take years to acquire through work experience.
About APLS Content Creation Team
Ted Lister
Ted Lister is an internationally recognized innovative leader, keynote speaker, and trainer on Asset and Maintenance Management, Shutdown and Turnaround Management, Operational Readiness, and Commissioning across various industry sectors. He is the author and co-author of several books, best-practice industry guidelines, training courses, materials, and tools.
Early in his career, Ted developed a dynamic scheduling methodology using Primavera™ P6 and MS Project® to pilot and navigate the everchanging execution environment of Shutdowns, Turnarounds, Outages, and EPC (Engineering, Procurement, Construction) Commissioning. Ted is a Red Seal Instrumentation/Electrician, Certified Chemical Technologist, and a seasoned STO practitioner, consultant, and coach.
For more than 30 years, Ted has been circling the globe and experiencing firsthand the challenges faced by asset owners from energy, mining, and heavy industry to effectively establish scope, build a budget, and efficiently execute work without compromising safety or quality. He has learned what it takes to enhance STO event execution performance. From crash-and-burn lessons learned to innovative best practice methodologies and tools, you will benefit from his deep knowledge and experience.
John Crager
As Vice President and General Manager at APVantage, John Crager leads a dynamic team of experts dedicated to transforming how large industrial organizations approach complex turnarounds and capital projects. His mission is clear: deliver exceptional results through strategic consulting, specialized skills teams, and innovative logistics management solutions.
John's leadership is centered on breaking down complex challenges, streamlining critical processes, and consistently delivering projects on time and within budget. By combining deep industry expertise with cutting-edge technological solutions, John helps empower industrial organizations achieve unprecedented levels of operational excellence.
Passionate about problem-solving, process innovation, and driving operational excellence in industrial project execution, John is committed to pushing the boundaries of what is possible in project management and organizational performance.