TOTAL PRODUCTIVE MAINTENANCE (TPM) - A STRATEGIC ISSUE FOR STELRAD

Philip Taylor
TPM Manager, Caradon Sterland

ABSTRACT

This paper is primarily designed to test the hypothesis that the use of total productive maintenance (TPM – a Japanese manufacturing technique) will reduce costs at Stelrad Mexborough, a factory based in South Yorkshire, England. The paper analyses the need for this cost reduction to clearly show its scope and strategic importance to the organisation.

Stelrad Mexborough is the manufacturing site of Stelrad UK, a producer of domestic central heating radiators. Stelrad UK itself is part of the European radiator arm of Caradon PLC’s plumbing division. At the time of writing Stelrad employed the author as a Kaizen Engineer with responsibility for continuous improvement. He was given the task of implementing TPM by the UK Operations Director in order to improve operational efficiencies and reduce costs. The improvement was necessary to address urgent strategic issues that were having a detrimental effect on the business. The author was currently in the throes of completing his part-time MBA and took the opportunity to integrate this work-based project with his final dissertation submission. The outcome was revealing in as much it provided positive outcomes to the organisation but at same time highlighted the effectiveness of meaningful overlap between academic theory and working practice.

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