Total productive maintenance: Criteria for success

This paper reports a study of the criteria necessary for the successful implementation of Total Productive Maintenance (TPM). The study was conducted in four business units of two plants involved in the processing of high integrity products. It is not surprising to find that the level of management commitment is critical to the success of TPM. The differences in the two plants' commitment include the organisation structure for TPM, management support, teamworking ethos and experience in implementing initiatives. It was also found that the TPM facilitator must be motivated and proactive to make best use of their meetings with management, promote TPM and implement the training received. They must also be persuasive and have the ability to coach and train people in the TPM methodology.