Potential of using TPM to increase the efficiency of production processes

Abstract

The goal of the submitted paper is to implement the principles of TPM and to achieve almost 100% usability of machines, when there will be no failures and unwanted incidents. The effectiveness of implementing the TPM principles has been experimentally verified in an engineering company. Workplaces for the assembly of rails on Unimatic lines were chosen as a pilot workplace. Prior to the implementation of the TPM, analyses of technical downtime and unplanned shutdowns of the manufacturing devices due to failures, unplanned repairs and maintenance were carried out. The resulting analysis concentrated mainly on two main variables - total cumulative technical downtime at individual workplaces and frequency of occurrence of failures in individual sections of the workplaces. The presented approach and the results obtained underline the importance of applying the TPM principles in practice and their indisputable contribution to the ability to increase business performance. The TPM's progressive maintenance management system represents a prerequisite for the reduction of production costs and losses resulting from unscheduled failures now and in the future.