Total productive maintenance implementation in a manufacturing organisation

Maintenance has traditionally been viewed as a support and ‘nonvalue adding’ function of a business. Managing equipment performance has not been a top priority until recent years in manufacturing industry. The inadequacies of maintenance practices in the past, have adversely affected organisational competitiveness. The manufacturing sector globally has witnessed drastic changes in the later part of 20th century. In the highly challenging environment, the quest for reliable manufacturing equipment has necessitated manufacturing organisations to accept equipment maintenance as an indispensable function for ensuring sustained profitability of enterprises. As organisations across the globe have faced stiff cut throat competition in the last three decades, Indian industry too could not escape the brunt of globalisation. The purpose of this study is to highlight achievements of an Indian manufacturing enterprise through strategic Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) initiatives. TPM implementation initiatives in an Indian manufacturing organisation have been investigated to ascertain benefits accrued as a result of successful TPM implementation.