Company Announcement - The Automotive Industry Development Centre, in partnership with Dr Uttam Chatterjee from JMAC (Japan Management Association Consultants), conducted a three day workshop on the Fundamental Pillars for successful TPM (Total Productive Maintenance) Implementation at Bosal Koedoespoort Industrial Site in Pretoria during the first quarter of 2015. The TPM workshop was a part of the AIDC Supplier Efficiency Improvement Programme to improve and streamline their manufacturing processes. TPM is a globally proven programme which emphasises continuous and preventative maintenance of equipment.

The TPM workshop was attended by representatives from both automotive and non-automotive companies. These included Bosal, Festo, Feltex, Nissan SA, Plastic Omnium, Quantum Automotive, RG Brose Automotive Components, Venture SA, Waterlinx and Shatterprufe, and focused on getting the management, maintenance personnel and shop floor staff to work together to prevent equipment problems and reduce expenditures. By giving ownership and responsibility of equipment and processes to the right employees, equipment breakdowns are reduced.

TPM incorporates eight (8) pillars & the 5S Workplace Organisation methodology as a systematic approach to setting standards and visual guides for preventing breakdowns and ensure the smooth and effective utilisation of equipment. Once the TPM methodology has been adopted in a company, it is evaluated and supported by the AIDC to ensure that the continuous improvement process is applied during manufacturing. Says Rickus Lubbe, Project Manager at the AIDC, “We have hosted many successful TPM workshops in the past and this introductory TPM workshops once again gave participating companies an overview of the benefits of TPM.” He adds that many of the companies have already implemented TPM at their manufacturing facilities because they want to improve on their global competitiveness. Anton Rademeyer, Production Area Manager at Bosal, and a participant in the introductory training workshop, believes that the TPM training will definitely benefit their business because they can recognise a problem quickly and find a resolution as well. “We welcome the AIDC’s TPM training,” he say. “It is a true test of leadership because we have the ability to recognise a problem before it becomes an emergency,” he explains.

Nozidumo Matsebula, a Trainee Project Manager at Nissan SA, says that the workshop exceeded her expectations. “It was great and beyond what I could expect. The TPM workshop was very informative and an eye opener for all participants,” she adds.
The AIDC will be hosting introductory workshops to TPM in September 2015. If you, or a representative of your company, wishes to participate in the next TPM workshop, please contact Rickus Lubbe on 082 872 4562 or via email: rlubbe@aidc.co.za by 21 August 2015.