Questions & Answers about lean production
What does TPM mean?
TPM, short for Total Productive Maintenance, is also known as TPU (Total Productive Content) in Swedish. It is a method for increasing the efficiency of the equipment and developing the company’s processes. TPM, or Total Productive Maintenance, emerged as a new approach to maintenance in the 1970s. Japanese engineers meticulously researched and refined American maintenance practices to promote productivity. The method is primarily useful in an automated and / or maintenance-intensive industry.
TPM and Lean
Simplified, companies usually have one of two strategies for maintaining their machines: reactive or proactive. Reactive means using the machines until they break down and then repair them, while proactive means using preventive maintenance activities to prevent machines from breaking down. By using TPM, we apply an intense maintenance approach that aims to prevent machine and equipment malfunctions while also enhancing their productivity.
Both TPM and lean production aim to decrease waste, but while the latter is a mindset and philosophy, TPM is a technique. This could mean eliminating downtime, speed losses and quality losses.
TPM today
As the degree of automation in the industry increases, there is a risk that operators will won’t be able to keep up with developments. And thereby lose control and knowledge of their machines. As a result, not all issues that arise are detected in time, and bugs are only temporarily fixed. Therefore, it’s essential to guarantee that operators receive training and regularly engage in equipment maintenance to maximize productivity and minimize downtime. While the maintenance department can focus on implementing advanced maintenance procedures and enhancing equipment.
We can allocate our efforts to other areas of the project. With the rapid technological development, interest in TPM is growing worldwide.
