Total Productive Maintanence (TPM) applications and award process in plastic film sector

Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) is a Japan management approach. This approach includes continuous improvement activities aiming zero defects, zero breakdowns and zero accidents on equipment and processes. These activities are carried through works of teams formed by eight pillars, resulted in improved worker skills. Among these, there are practices performed to achieve business goals, to survive against competitors in an increasingly competitive business environment, and to strengthen both internal and external operations. In this study, Total Productive Maintenance practices in Polibak Plastik Film Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş., which is a company operating in plastic film sector, are covered. In this process, researcher made field visits study TPM practices on site, and attended weekly TPM meetings. As a result of the company's TPM implementation, improvement activities carried out by every each pillar resulted in advancements in both tangible and intangible results. Consequently it is determined that TPM expenses made by company returned as a bigger yield. Researcher also took active role in TPM Excellence Award process of company and tracked the process. Improvements made in award process were evaluated with self-assessment after TPM award assessment. As a result of successful TPM practices and significant results achieved, company was awarded with 2014 TPM Excellence Award which is given by JIPM. Keywords: Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), Eight Pillars, TPM Excellence Award, Plastic Film Sector.