#totalqualitymanagement

Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) is a continuous process that doesn’t stop with successful implementation. Your improved product or process will become the new baseline, and you can apply PDCA to new ideas in a constant loop of improvement and adjustment.

The PDCA/PDSA framework works well in all types of organizations. It’s specifically helpful for implementing Total Quality Management or Six Sigma initiatives.

Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) is a continuous process that doesn't stop with successful implementation. Your improved product or process will become the new baseline, and you can apply PDCA to new ideas in a constant loop of improvement and adjustment.

The PDCA/PDSA framework works well in all types of organizations. It's specifically helpful for implementing Total Quality Management or Six Sigma initiatives.

Total Productive Maintenance is well known in its abbreviated form – TPM has origins from Japan.  It is a well structured and scientific method refined with many iterations for getting best and sustainable results.

TPM is not only for machine intensive organisation. The approach and methodologies can be applied in the office environment also.

When TPM methodology is implemented in an organisation, it helps in improving overall performance of business by

Improving teamwork among the entire organization members – top management to the front line.

Making machines function with high reliability and consistent performance.

Improving machine availability through reduction of down time and elimination of major losses which are defined elaborately according to TPM definitions.

Increased morale of the team members or front line members

Empowering and formally authorizing operators through TPM training and support to own and take pride in maintaining their own machines/ Equipment.

TPM is adopted company-wide and compliments many other parallel programmes on Operational Excellence such as Lean Manufacturing, Total Quality Management, Theory of constraints, Six Sigma.  TPM is characteristically applied to equipment with emphasis on input and causes. TPM emphasizes realization of ideal conditions to achieve the goal of Zero BAD which is total elimination of Breakdowns, Accidents and Defects.

TPM has a very meaningful definition and philosophy which has expansion for each letter as follows:

T stands for Total which includes

Total involvement of members from top management to frontline members.

Total Elimination of losses, breakdowns, accidents, and defects

P Stands for Productive which means

The overall pursuit of improving production efficiency.. productivity or effectiveness

M stands for Maintenance which means

Maintaining the best performance of the equipment by ensuring the right conditions that are needed to get the best performance over its intended life span and beyond.

Key characteristics of TPM

TPM methodology is designed to achieve overall improvements in plants that are beyond machinery.

Jishu Hozen – JH or Autonomous Maintenance - AM which is a key differentiator from traditional Preventive maintenance PM is that operators or the frontline members take ownership of operations and basic maintenance of the equipment.

Equipment Management in the modern era began with Preventive Maintenance and improved further into productive maintenance.  This originated in the United states as PM and had a high focus on the maintenance department.

TPM is also called as productive maintenance with total participation involving every level and every function of the organization has helped Japanese companies to be in the top of world in productivity, quality and cost advantages

Related Article– How To Customise TPM Implementation To Suit Your Organization Culture

The ultimate goal of TPM is Zero BAD

1Zero breakdown2Zero Accident3Zero Defects

Key pillars of TPM are

1Focussed improvements2Autonomous Maintenance3Planned maintenance4Early Management5Quality Maintenance6Skill training7Administrative and supporting functions.8Safety, Health, and Environment.

TPM helps in improving business results dramatically and enables safe, pleasant and productive workplaces by optimizing and improving teamwork between people working in different functions and roles.  TPM is also widely used in specialized process industries for achieving cost effective operations where equipment reliability and need to operate for long hours without stoppage is important. In such areas, even a minor stoppage or breakdown of one single piece of equipment or component can result in plant shutdown.

Major credit for formulating and documenting the structured implementation of TPM goes to Japan Institute of Plant Maintenance – JIPM.  Knowledge and implementation experience of other methodologies such as Lean, TQM, Six Sigma, Lean Six Sigma can complement implementation of TPM more effectively.

Evaluating the effective implementation of TPM involves

1Assessing whether the organization has achieved policy and goals set before the launching of TPM2Whether the company has realized the intended benefits3How effectively topics are prioritized, action plans and quantitative targets have been pursued through continuous improvement activities.4Tangible benefits and intangible benefits realized.

Related Article– How operational excellence through TPM, Lean, TQM, TOC and 5S help organisations improve performance? – Case Studies & Success Stories

Intangible benefits of implementing any programme such as TPM, Lean, TOC, TQM or Lean Six Sigma should be considered important, It should be at least acknowledged.

Some of the intangible benefits of TPM are

Creating of safe working environment

Relaxed and meaningful workplace

Improved morale of people

Brand image and good will

Some of the initial steps of implementation of Structured TPM are

1Set up a promotion office – TPM promotion office2Launch TPM introductory education to every team member3Form small group4Select group leaders

Related Article– Can we use best practices as combination of Lean, TPM, TQM, Kaizen, Six Sigma?

After this, each group needs to understand its present position and circumstances – as is the situation, identify the problems faced by its part of the organisation , determine the ideal condition to aim for and opportunities available. With this, aim to set up consensus and aligning team thinking.

Even though TPM can be implemented with inhouse resources, it has always worked by taking help of experienced and reliable consultants of TPM from Industry.  TPM consultants from Seven Steps are veterans in their industry and have working and consulting knowledge of over 20 – 30 years each and combined experience of over 200 years.

Seven Steps Business Transformation Systems – SSBTS is Consulting company of Seven Steps Group.  We have various specialities and have dedicated consultants for

TPM Consulting

Lean Consulting for manufacturing,

Lean consulting for services

Lean consulting for hospitals

Lean consulting for retail

Lean consulting for supply chain and logistics

Lean consulting for construction

Where hands on implementation support is needed, it is supported by Seven Steps Business transformation system which is a consulting company specialized in implementation of Lean manufacturing, Total productive Maintenance, Theory of Constraints, Six Sigma.

Our customers have got significant benefits in saving of Cost of poor quality apart from gaining increased market shared, reduced logistics/air shipment costs.