Benchmarking: Preventive Maintenance Practices at Japanese Transplants Available to Purchase

Examines the preventive maintenance practice at four Japanese transplant operations in the USA. Illustrates the application of the total productive maintenance concept, kaizen, employee training and employee empowerment. The benchmarking of Japanese practices serves to enhance quality management practices everywhere. The philosophy underpinning the effort at the Japanese transplants is the key to understanding the role of preventive maintenance in quality manufacturing.