Keeping the wheels turning [total productive maintenance]

Trends indicate that, in general, systems are increasing in complexity with the introduction of new technologies and are not meeting customer expectations in terms of performance and effectiveness. Systems are also becoming more costly relative to their operation and support. Faced with an economy in recession, increasing competition, an installed capacity greater than demand, and sales price and raw material cost dictated by the market, total productive maintenance (TPM) may be the only thing that stands between success and total failure for some companies. The TPM programme involves a concept for maintaining plants and equipment. The programme shifts responsibility for routine equipment maintenance from maintenance department to process owners and production employees. It combines the best features of productive and predictive maintenance with innovative management strategies and total employee involvement. It is, essentially, an integration of production and maintenance functions with the goal of optimising equipment reliability and ensuring the efficient management of plants assets.