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Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) Systematic Equipment Maintenance Employees at All Levels
Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) Systematic Equipment Maintenance Employees at All Levels
Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) Systematic Equipment Maintenance Employees at All Levels
In the 1970’s, the concept of ‘productive maintenance’ emerged, rolling into one
system the following: preventive maintenance, equipment reliability engineering,
equipment maintainability engineering, and equipment engineering economics.
Under this system, the technical or engineering group still has the main
responsibility for equipment maintenance.
The concept of ‘true’ TPM wherein everyone from the operator to top
management owns equipment maintenance came about shortly after. TPM
embraces various disciplines to create a manufacturing environment wherein
everyone feels that it is his or her responsibility to keep the equipment running
and productive.
Under TPM, operators no longer limit themselves to simply using the machine
and calling the technician when a breakdown occurs. Operators can inspect,
clean, lubricate, adjust, and even perform simple calibrations on their respective
equipment. This frees the technical workforce for higher-level preventive
maintenance activities that require more of their technical expertise.
Management should also show interest in data concerning equipment uptime,
utilization, and efficiency. In short, everyone understands that zero breakdowns,
maximum productivity, and zero defects are goals to be shared by everyone
under TPM.