ABSTRACT
Total productive maintenance (TPM) improves corporate business results and creates pleasant and productive workplaces by changing the way people think about and work with equipment throughout the company. Autonomous maintenance is one of the most important basic building blocks in any TPM program. Two keys to developing a successful autonomous maintenance program are thoroughness and continuity. Maintenance activities aim to keep equipment in a desired state — by preventing and correcting failures. These maintenance and improvement activities are carried out simultaneously in three areas: preventing, measuring, and restoring deterioration. Cleaning is a form of inspection in TPM. Its purpose is not merely to clean, but to expose hidden defects or abnormalities in equipment conditions. Autonomous maintenance is implemented in seven steps, starting with initial cleaning and proceeding steadily toward full self-management. It promotes the establishment of optimal process conditions by cycling through the continuous improvement (CAPD) management cycle.
