Equipment Reliability Process with Predictive Maintenance (PdM) Technology: Advanced TPS based upon Highly Reliable Lean Maintenance at Toyota Manufacturing USA

Equipment reliability plays a critical role in global production because the equipment specifications of production lines in the world vary depending on the circumstances of each country. When Toyota Motor Corporation operates overseas plants, equipment reliability management is one of the most important hurdles the global production must overcome. It is important to develop an equipment reliability management program to minimize support from Japan to let overseas plants become self-reliant. Therefore, the authors have proposed the Advanced TPS to achieve simultaneous, worldwide high-quality assurance in global production. Advanced TPS is comprised of four different pillars: productivity, cost, workability, and quality. This article explains how the Advanced TPS can be applied specifically to the equipment reliability process with Predictive Maintenance (PdM) Technology. This business practice focuses on managing equipment reliability to meet the business goals of Toyota Manufacturing USA.