Page 211 - TPM A Route to World-Class Performance

188 TPM-A Route to World-Class Performance

Can the equipment/item cope with the environment? (dust/heat/damp/
vibration: adverse as well as normal conditions)
Can the equipment control be simplified?
Can the item be made of a cheaper/different material?
Can a cheaper service be used?

Operability
This is aimed at making it easy to do right, difficult to do wrong.

Are frequent adjustments required?
0 Are handles or knobs difficult to operate?
Are any specialized skills or tools required for operation/adjustment?
(start-up, shutdown)
Are blockages/stoppages likely? (How are they resolved?)
Has any diagnostic function been built in? (glass panels, gauges,
indicators)
Start-ups and shutdowns: is additional manning required?
How robust is the equipment? (Will the equipment break down or product
quality be affected by poor operation?)
Is the operator’s working posture unhealthy?

Maintainability
The keys here are to try to eliminate maintenance or to make it easy, infrequent
and low-cost.
0 Can we eliminate the need for maintenance?
0 Are areas easy to clean, lubricate or check?
0 How long is the equipment set-up time?
0 How frequently does the equipment need tuning or calibrating?
0 Are specialized maintenance skills required?
0 Can failure be predicted?
0 Have any self-diagnostic functions been built in? (Is it easy to find the
cause of failures?)
0 Can parts be easily replaced and plant restored quickly?
0 How reliable is the equipment?
0 Can we extend the maintenance interval?
0 Does the equipment structure facilitate maintenance? (lifting heavy parts,
etc.)
0 What routines are required?
0 What spares support is required?
0 Can breakdowns be restored cheaply? (Can spare materials and parts
be purchased cheaply?)