Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) is an approach to maintenance developed in Japan that brings the tools of total quality management (TQM) to maintenance. The aim of TPM is to reduce six categories of equipment losses to improve overall equipment effectiveness (OEE). The six major causes of equipment losses, according to Nakajima (1988) are:
1. Failure; 2. Set-up and adjustments; 3. Idling and minor stoppage; 4. Reduced speed; 5. Process defects; and 6. Reduced yield.
TPM empowers operators and uses multi-skilled crafts to minimize response time and perform productive maintenance. The implementation is expected to assist in improving maintenance effectiveness and control.