FORTIFICATION OF PLANT MAINTENANCE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES: ROLE OF SIX SIGMA APPROACH

Mahesh Pophaley,Ram Krishna Vyas

doi:10.14488/bjopm.2015.v12.n1.a6

Mahesh Pophaley, Ram Krishna Vyas

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.14488/bjopm.2015.v12.n1.a6

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Abstract

Today, only those companies which are capable of permanent and fast adaptation to quickly-changing conditions can survive. Six Sigma is at the top of the agenda for many manufacturing companies that try to reduce cost, process variability and improve productivity. In order for a company to remain competitive and maintain maximal efficiency and availability of all its plants and machinery, what is needed is an approach different from the traditional concept of doing plant maintenance. In this paper an attempt is made to investigate the gap between plant maintenance practices and Six Sigma approach that led us to suggest that there is a great deal of scope in the prescription of Six Sigma in maintenance theory. Further this paper explores the possibilities of enhancing the usefulness and effectiveness of plant maintenance practices by the integration with established Six Sigma Operation Techniques (SSOT). Thus to enhance maintenance deployment in manufacturing environments, a new roadmap for core maintenance professionals for integration has been proposed. The conclusion that can be drawn from this on going research is that, in order to reach its goals, the maintenance departments must implement Six Sigma program to change the way in which traditional practices employ at work for continual improvement of the maintenance function.

Highlights

INTRODUCTIONIt is obvious that there is a need for a paradigm shift in maintenance strategy management to be put in place
Today, only those companies which are capable of permanent and fast adaptation to quickly-changing conditions can survive
Maintenance departments are continually under the gun to restore the machines to their original operating conditions, decrease equipment downtime, minimize wear and tear, improve efficiency and reduce costs on a long term basis

Summary

INTRODUCTION

It is obvious that there is a need for a paradigm shift in maintenance strategy management to be put in place. PACE Framework: We can apply a methodology to benchmark maintenance practices that evaluates the maintenance department’s pressures, actions, capabilities, and enablers (PACE) that indicate its behavior in specific processes These terms are elaborated from maintenance management point of view, keeping the same basis as reported in ‘The Lean Six Sigma Benchmark Report’. Linking Six Sigma and ME leads to an improved model of the organisation of the maintenance function, enables reduction of variations in the process and cycle time for the maintenance, eliminates the waste and rework etc In this view, the integrated model supports progressive improvement and helps the organisation define its improvement priorities and reach new levels of competitive strength (Lazreg et Gien, 2009).

Control the variation

CONCLUSION