ABSTRACT
Toyota Production System (TPS) is believed to be working when the four basic elements of a production system—transportation, delay, inspection, and inventory—are eliminated. Equifinality also demonstrates the idea that a system can be long lasting and maintain a dynamic equilibrium. A management system is effective when decision making can occur uniformly through each business function and condition. One of the secrets behind TPS is not how Toyota manufactures cars but how management systems can be applied consistently throughout the organization. Toyota’s maintenance system has grown in interest, specifically because of the success in TPS. A common approach to improve maintenance functions and systems is the use of initiatives. Toyota’s approach to improving the maintenance function begins with building the maintenance management system. One way that Toyota builds the maintenance management system as it relates to managing the workload of the maintenance function is through the use of roles.
