Editorial by Michael Geyer

Total Productive Maintenance (TPM)


Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) is a maintenance program which involves a newly defined concept for maintaining, Manufacturing. Production, and support equipment.

TPM is a great tool for increasing production, decreasing production down time, while increasing employee job satisfaction. The reason is simply because It brings into focus a control of down time and reallocates maintenance resources, make better use of scheduling (Technician and Equipment Repairs), while reducing the cost of inventory, and saving a significant over-all maintenance cost.

Total Productive Maintenance Defined

• Increasing production

• Decreasing production down time

• Reallocate maintenance resources

• Reducing the cost of inventory

Calculating Equipment Efficiency

Calculating Equipment Efficiency = Availability of the Machine x Performance Efficiency x Yield

Calculating Equipment Efficiency = A x P x Y

To find (A) = Total Run Time of Equipment - Total Down Time / Number of times Down

To find (P) = Average Cycle Time x Actual Cycle Time

To find (Y) = Total of good parts produced as a % - Scrap as a %

Total Productive Maintenance and Employees

TMP is a collaborated effort between Supervision and Maintenance Technicians, and is the responsibility of Supervision to implement the program. Supervision must define parameters, simplify the process, delegate responsibility to maintenance personnel, explain and educate. It is imperative that maintenance personnel understand the process and follow through.