ABSTRACT
One characteristic of total productive maintenance (TPM) is that the production department is required to participate through autonomous maintenance as performed by the equipment operators, this chapter examines its goals and methods. The purpose of autonomous maintenance is to teach equipment operators how to maintain their equipment by performing daily checks, lubrication, replacement of parts, repairs, precision checks, and other maintenance tasks, including the early detection of abnormalities. Autonomous maintenance requires operators to understand their equipment. The job-related expertise must not be limited to simply operating the equipment; it must also include a lot of things traditionally regarded as maintenance work. Although activity boards are a common tool for most small group activities, they are rarely used effectively and quite often function simply as display boards. Any small group leader who has been educated in the basics of TPM is obliged to teach what he or she has learned to other group members.
