In order to continue to be competitive in the current industrial climate, producers must increase efficiency at their plants. Several Swedish companies choose to utilise the principles of Lean production. Tour & Andersson AB (TA) has elected to create their own model using Toyota’s productions system which has been named TAPS (Tour & Andersson Production System). Following two years of working with TAPS the company has decided to introduce Total Productive Maintenance (TPM).
Most of the work carried out in the maintenance department today is in form of repairs to already faulty equipment. Only 10 % of their resources are utilised to take preventative measures. Some resources in the form of maintenance systems are available, but are currently not used to their full potential.
This report is founded on the company’s needs to make the maintenance operation more efficient in order to reduce costs and to reach a high level of service on delivery to the customer. The company is also striving to increase staff participation and to guarantee a high level of their safety and environmental work.
The contents of this report have been collected through various literature, observations of the operation, interviews and one survey. The summary information aims to explain the introduction process from TA’s perspective and is designed to consider TA’s existing improvement processes and working methods. The introduction of TPM as a working method in an organisation would normally be implemented in 12 steps:
1. Inform of the management’s decision to introduce TPU
2. Create an organisation for change and develop pilot areas
3. Education and information
4. Develop policy and goals
5. Formulate a key plan for the introduction of TPU
6. Staff meeting and celebration of TPU introduction
7. Measure and analyse OEE
8. Operator maintenance in 7 steps
9. Specialist maintenance
10. In-service training (Development of competency)
11. Equipment planning
12. Devise new goals
TA has at this stage reached point number 2; a steering committee has been formed which has began looking at pilot projects. Further knowledge of TPM still needs to be gained and hence the steering committee has discussed the possibilities of purchasing relevant technical literature, organising lectures and making educational visits to other plants where TPM has already been implemented.
Overall, the news of the introduction of ...
