TPM - Total Productive Maintenance: Impact on competitiveness and a framework for successful implementation

Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) describes a synergistic relationship amo ng all organizational functions, but particularly between production and ma intenance, for continuous improvement of product quality, operational effic iency, capacity assurance, and safety. This article provides the key factor s that are critical to the successful implementation of TPM. It is thus cru cial to provide and discuss those factors for more effective TPM implementa tion. Also, this study explores the impact of TPM on the competitiveness of the company. This research concludes that long-term benefits of TPM are th e result of considerable investment in human resource development and manag ement. For TPM practitioners, we advise to build a supportive culture and e nvironment with a strong emphasis on human and organizational aspects to pr omote effective TPM implementation. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.