What is TPM in manufacturing?

Autonomous maintenance is the pillar that requires the regular operators of the machine to maintain it. This includes things like cleaning, lubrication, and inspections. Next, is planned maintenance which is scheduled out and based on predicted failure rates. Third, is quality maintenance. Quality maintenance targets eros in production and involves working to prevent them in the future.

Step four is a focused improvement which involves employees working together to continually make improvements based on recurring problems that may arise with equipment. Next, is early equipment management. This step takes knowledge and understanding of the equipment to improve the design of any new equipment, as well as decrease start-up issues.

Training and education are the next pillars. This involves developing the skills to routinely maintain equipment. It also includes obtaining and maintaining the knowledge to make TPM successful. Safety, health, and the environment are the next step in the pillars. This pillar revolves around maintaining a safe work environment, specifically by eliminating risks before they occur.

The final pillar is TPM administration. This step combines the technical and mechanical aspects of TPM with the administrative functions of the TMP process. The TPM process is an overall holistic approach to making a manufacturing process safe, efficient, and effective.