safeguards (on quality and competence) cross training can boost productivity dramatically. Being able to send one person instead of two is Lean.
•The Attachment is to the people rather than technology or computer systems. CMMS and other systems have come a long way in the last 2 decades but none of the systems can operate without human intelligence driving them.
What is the real mission of your department? In the best organizations there is alignment between the mission over the door and what really is said, or not said, in the small meetings and on the shop floor. Always:
•Focus on service to the customer or focus on adding value to the customer.
•Focus on safe operations for the maintenance workers, operations, the general public, and the environment.
•Look for ways to reduce costs (ongoing Lean Maintenance) of your operation.
•Look for better ways to do business by cultivating willingness to run controlled experiments (can be directed by Lean projects).
Once again, the goal is the same. We are seeking a powerfully self-motivated workforce, and excellent execution of maintenance activity.
Returning to the discussion about specific industrial groupings there are certain business process areas considered in World Class studies that apply within each division of industry. Within these areas we are able to relate the practices between cereal manufacturers to each other, and even cereal plants to similar plants such as snack makers (if they are similar in size, scale, and approach).
Below are some of the strategies of world class maintenance management and how they specifically relate to Lean Maintenance.
| Essential for a couple of reasons. One is reduced downtime. Another is higher worker productivity, third is having the lowest inventory level to support the assets. | |
| Although PM/PdM is not the goal, it is a fundamental part of world class maintenance. The intensity of the program will be related to the consequences of unscheduled failure. | |
| World Class organizations manage information effectively. Lean Maintenance requires that 1000s of details are on hand when needed. | |
| Communication is the core of World Class Maintenance. All parties communicate to their critical partnership person. All communications channels are open. | |
| Use of outsiders is indicated when there are not enough available hours of competent personnel or there are no personnel with the competence needed at all. It is also used to minimize overall cost to deliver the maintenance product. Good for seasonal or business cycle peaks. | |
| The computer is a great tool for all but the smallest maintenance organizations. It provides the data for Lean projects and any World Class department would be using one intensively (not just feeding it but also taking advantage of it). | |
| The CMMS or a good manual filing system provide the data for Lean decisions and are essential in a World Class setting. Data is retained from date-in-service until retirement. | |
| So much of the continued success of your World Class maintenance effort depends on things that you do not know today. Training has to be part of the World Class program. | |
| World Class organizations do not tolerate repetitive failures. They have exercised the muscle (possibly through Lean projects) to analyze and redesign or permanently repair, all repetitive problems. | |
| World Class maintenance is not only a maintenance ‘thing.’ It requires discipline and cooperation from other groups. That cooperation facilitates Lean projects. | |
| A World Class maintenance function has the willingness to embark on programs that make sense such as RCM and TPM, to enhance the delivery of service and reduce cost. | |
| World Class maintenance would be nowhere without a sound and coherent approach to quality. Quality of maintenance work is related to proper training (competence), proper tools and parts (bill of materials) and enough time (custody). All these same elements point to a Lean organization too. | |
| The core of the whole discussion is excellence, without which World Class maintenance cannot exist. Lean projects sometimes require deep capabilities that are either in-house or easily available locally. | |
| World Class Maintenance is not about all the new toys introduced by vendors. It is about knowing what is available and using the appropriate technology when that is the best alternative. | |
| If selected intelligently your vendors can be used to solve some of your most intractable problems. All World Class organizations have partnerships with their vendors. This multiplies their expertise without significant extra cost. |
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CHAPTER 5 |
Benjamin Franklin says: An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.
When you think about lean workers and lean workforces, think about the difference between a platoon of army or even marine personnel, and an equal number of Special Forces personnel. Special Forces have the ability to focus high levels of firepower for short to moderate periods of time, on an objective. They can move quickly because they are designed to be maximally mobile. The Special Forces have deep ability to be flexible and adapt to the situation. Finally, they move without disrupting the environment (stealthy).
The focus, speed, stealth, and flexibility bring about the objective. The lean maintenance worker is like that Special Forces soldier, flexible, with the ability to focus adequate firepower on any maintenance
