TPM - Total Productive Maintenance

TPM is a continuous improvement philosophy focused on process equipment performance.

In TPM everyone, management, engineering, maintenance and operators share responsibility for the overall effectiveness of the equipment.

The machine/process operators, that is, those closest to it, are its owners and are trained and empowered to monitor its health and continually improve its performance.

Engineering and maintenance provide key services to operations. Management are responsible for breaking down traditional departmental barriers to achieve the above.

Compared to other continuous improvement strategies TPM is relatively easy and cost effective to implement. This is because it focuses on the operator’s immediate working environment. This provides a strong WIIFM focus (What’s In It For Me).

Key Principles of TPM

1. Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)

2. Focus on Defects

3. Working Environment <> Behaviour

4. Equipment “Ownership”

5. Continuous Improvement through Teamwork

We have the experience, implementing TPM in discrete and continuous process environments.

Results can be spectacular.

In one particular pilot project on a continuous casting production line, OEE went from 38% to over 70% in 3 months with minor maintenance expenditure only.

The throughput virtually doubled for no capital cost. This was in a 4 shift 24/7 environment and the gains were sustained.

Also see 5S and Quick Changeover

Contact us for further information.