Page 199 - DMGT524_TOTAL_QUALITY_MANAGEMENT

Total Quality Management

Notes phase. Plans should focus on use of teams consisting of maintenance technicians and machine
operators in production departments to work troublesome problems which may require urgent
attention. They can determine priorities for improvement and management must commit
resources which are required for correcting these problems. Use of teams in the initial stages can
lead to future development of autonomous work groups. Hence plans must be prepared gradual
changes in restructuring the organization into small autonomous workgroups.

13.2.7 Autonomous Work Groups

Autonomous work groups are established based on the natural flow of activity. Operators must
be made responsible for the equipment and level of maintenance that they are capable of
performing. Maintenance personnel with necessary skill levels should be identified. Operators
and maintenance personnel are brought together in the form of autonomous work teams. These
groups must have authority to make decisions about keeping the machines in good working
condition. The structure of the autonomous workgroups may depend on the type of the industry
and nature of application. Maintenance technicians should be consultants for production
personnel. Maintenance personnel can also train production personnel on basic maintenance
activities like oiling, minor troubleshooting, setting up, etc. The overall objective of autonomous
workgroups is to reduce time spent on maintenance activity.

Task Prepare a flow chart explaining the various steps involved in TPM implementation.

Self Assessment

Fill in the blanks:
5. The first step in implementing Total Productivity Maintenance is assessment of
…………………….

6. …………………… should have awareness programs, after which announcement is made
to all.
7. TPM calls for tapping of …………………… resources of the organization.

8. Top management should have …………………… commitment and it should not focus on
…………………… gains.
9. …………………… is the backbone for success of TPM.

10. …………………… approach is the key for implementation of TPM.
11. Front line supervisors are backbone for TPM as they play a major role in ……………………
projects.

12. …………………… involvement is the most important need for TPM.
13. People at the …………………… level can throw better light on needs of improvements.
14. Plans for developing autonomous work groups should take place during the
…………………… phase.
15. Autonomous work groups are established based on the …………………… of activity.
16. …………………… technicians should be consultants for production personnel.

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