TPM awards

At the annual JIPM-TPM Conference last month in Atlanta, four American plants distinguished themselves by being the first from this country to win the "TPM Excellence" award for plants having over 500 employees.

By Staff December 1, 1998

At the annual JIPM-TPM Conference last month in Atlanta, four American plants distinguished themselves by being the first from this country to win the “TPM Excellence” award for plants having over 500 employees. The winners are Hitachi Cable Indiana, Inc., New Albany, IN; Michigan Automotive Compressor, Inc., Parma, MI; Phillips 66 Co., Sweeny, TX; and Subaru-Isuzu Automotive, Inc., Lafayette, IN.

Each year, the Japan Institute of Plant Maintenance (JIPM) bestows Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) awards to plants that have satisfied rigorous screening criteria. Although plants from many countries apply for these prestigious awards, no US-based plant has earned one until now.

Screening for the awards is a detailed process involving both documentation and onsite visits. Activities scrutinized include TPM policies and objectives; TPM organization and management; individual improvement; autonomous maintenance; planned maintenance; quality maintenance; product and equipment development and control; training and development; administration and supervision; safety, sanitation, and environmental control; and TPM effectiveness assessment.