Using the total productive manufacturing (TPM) model to drive to a higher level of pollution prevention

Many companies have established Pollution Prevention (P2) Programs to decrease the environmental impacts of their operations and reduce their manufacturing costs. As the P2 Program successfully completes the easy projects, the quantity of resources expended at finding new P2 opportunities becomes greater. At some point, the amount of resources expended developing an option becomes greater than the benefits attained by its implementation. Even the most integrated of companies are organized with the specialized functions, such as the ESH organization, separate from the operations that make product. Although all functions have the same goal, to be productive units in a company making a profit, organizational boundaries between them frequently gets in the way, causing delays, duplication of effort, and wasted resources. A method is required that allows the operations and ESH function to efficiently direct their P2 resources towards those options that will produce the greatest benefit for the company. Total productive manufacturing (TPM) provides a method in which all functions within the company are focused towards achieving the same end. The Texas Instruments Incorporated, Materials and Controls (TI-M&C) division has launched a global TPM initiative as a cornerstone of its thrust to improve its operations. Dovetailing the P2 program with the emergent TPM initiative may provide for synergistic revitalization of the P2 effort and further integrate P2 into company operations