Flevy Management Insights Q&A
How does Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) complement OEE metrics in identifying and eliminating production inefficiencies?
     Joseph Robinson    |    OEE


This article provides a detailed response to: How does Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) complement OEE metrics in identifying and eliminating production inefficiencies? For a comprehensive understanding of OEE, we also include relevant case studies for further reading and links to OEE best practice resources.

TLDR TPM complements OEE metrics by ensuring optimal equipment condition, reducing downtime, and improving performance and quality, which together drive Operational Excellence and reduce production inefficiencies.

Reading time: 4 minutes

Before we begin, let's review some important management concepts, as they related to this question.

What does Total Productive Maintenance mean?
What does Overall Equipment Effectiveness mean?
What does Continuous Improvement mean?


Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) and Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) metrics are critical components of modern manufacturing strategies aimed at maximizing efficiency and minimizing waste. When used in tandem, these methodologies offer a comprehensive approach to identifying and eliminating production inefficiencies, thereby enhancing operational performance and profitability. This discussion delves into how TPM complements OEE metrics, providing specific, detailed, and actionable insights into their synergistic relationship.

Understanding TPM and OEE

Total Productive Maintenance is a holistic approach to equipment maintenance that strives to achieve perfect production. It emphasizes proactive and preventive maintenance to maximize the operational efficiency of equipment. TPM involves every employee in the organization, from top management to floor operators, and focuses on eight key areas, including autonomous maintenance, planned maintenance, quality management, and training and education. The goal of TPM is to increase productivity by reducing downtime, increasing equipment effectiveness, and improving quality and safety.

On the other hand, Overall Equipment Effectiveness is a metric that quantifies how effectively a manufacturing operation utilizes its resources. It is calculated by multiplying three primary factors: availability, performance, and quality. OEE serves as a benchmark for measuring the efficiency of a machine or process, identifying areas of improvement, and tracking the impact of improvement efforts over time. An OEE score of 100% represents perfect production, where only good parts are produced, as fast as possible, with no downtime.

While TPM provides a comprehensive framework for preventive maintenance and continuous improvement, OEE offers a quantifiable measure of a machine's effectiveness. Together, they create a powerful tool for identifying and eliminating inefficiencies in the production process.

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How TPM Complements OEE Metrics

TPM enhances the effectiveness of OEE metrics by ensuring that equipment is maintained in optimal condition, thereby directly impacting the availability and performance components of OEE. Through autonomous maintenance, one of the pillars of TPM, operators are empowered to perform basic maintenance tasks and identify potential issues before they lead to equipment failure. This proactive approach to maintenance can significantly reduce unplanned downtime, directly improving the availability metric of OEE.

Furthermore, TPM's focus on planned maintenance aligns with the goal of maximizing equipment performance. By scheduling regular maintenance activities based on historical data and predictive analytics, organizations can prevent the gradual decline in machine performance that typically occurs over time. This not only enhances the performance metric within OEE but also contributes to higher quality production, as well-maintained equipment is less likely to produce defects.

Lastly, the continuous improvement aspect of TPM, supported by its emphasis on education and training, ensures that the workforce is skilled in identifying inefficiencies and implementing solutions. This culture of continuous improvement fosters an environment where OEE metrics are not only monitored but actively used as a tool for driving operational excellence. By regularly analyzing OEE data, teams can identify trends, pinpoint areas for improvement, and measure the impact of TPM initiatives, thereby creating a feedback loop that continually enhances production efficiency.

Real-World Examples

In practice, many leading manufacturing organizations have successfully integrated TPM and OEE metrics to drive significant improvements in production efficiency. For instance, a report by McKinsey & Company highlighted a case where a manufacturer implemented TPM initiatives alongside continuous monitoring of OEE metrics. The result was a remarkable 30% reduction in machine downtime and a 15% increase in production output within the first year of implementation. This was achieved by identifying critical bottlenecks in the production process and addressing them through targeted maintenance strategies.

Another example involves a global automotive parts supplier that adopted TPM principles and focused on improving its OEE scores. By empowering operators to perform daily maintenance checks and using OEE data to prioritize maintenance activities, the organization was able to reduce equipment failures by 50% and improve its OEE score from 65% to 85% over a two-year period. This not only led to higher productivity but also significantly reduced maintenance costs.

These examples underscore the effectiveness of combining TPM with OEE metrics as a strategy for identifying and eliminating production inefficiencies. By fostering a culture of proactive maintenance and continuous improvement, organizations can leverage these methodologies to enhance operational performance, reduce waste, and ultimately, achieve a competitive advantage in the marketplace.

Best Practices in OEE

Here are best practices relevant to OEE from the Flevy Marketplace. View all our OEE materials here.

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Explore all of our best practices in: OEE

OEE Case Studies

For a practical understanding of OEE, take a look at these case studies.

Operational Efficiency Advancement in Automotive Chemicals Sector

Scenario: An agricultural firm specializing in high-volume crop protection chemicals is facing a decline in Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE).

Read Full Case Study

OEE Enhancement in Agritech Vertical

Scenario: The organization is a mid-sized agritech company specializing in precision farming equipment.

Read Full Case Study

OEE Enhancement in Consumer Packaged Goods Sector

Scenario: The organization in question operates within the consumer packaged goods industry and is grappling with suboptimal Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) rates.

Read Full Case Study

Optimizing Overall Equipment Effectiveness in Industrial Building Materials

Scenario: A leading firm in the industrial building materials sector is grappling with suboptimal Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) rates.

Read Full Case Study

OEE Improvement for D2C Cosmetics Brand in Competitive Market

Scenario: A direct-to-consumer (D2C) cosmetics company is grappling with suboptimal production line performance, causing significant product delays and affecting customer satisfaction.

Read Full Case Study

Infrastructure Asset Management for Water Treatment Facilities

Scenario: A water treatment firm in North America is grappling with suboptimal Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) scores across its asset portfolio.

Read Full Case Study

Explore all Flevy Management Case Studies

Related Questions

Here are our additional questions you may be interested in.

How can companies integrate OEE metrics with other key performance indicators (KPIs) to provide a more comprehensive view of operational health?
Integrating OEE with other KPIs like Inventory Turns, Cycle Time, and Customer Satisfaction, within a strategic framework, enhances operational health and drives continuous improvement. [Read full explanation]
What emerging technologies are proving most effective in enhancing OEE, and how can companies integrate these into their existing systems?
Emerging technologies like IoT, AI, ML, AR, and VR are key to enhancing Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) through strategic integration, data management, and workforce development for operational excellence. [Read full explanation]
What are the financial implications of improving OEE for manufacturing companies?
Improving Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) in manufacturing leads to significant cost reductions, increased production capacity without extra capital investment, and enhanced product quality, contributing to financial health and market competitiveness. [Read full explanation]
What impact do emerging technologies like digital twins have on the accuracy and utility of OEE measurements?
Digital Twins revolutionize OEE measurement accuracy and utility, driving Operational Excellence, Strategic Planning, and Performance Management in manufacturing. [Read full explanation]
What are the best practices for benchmarking OEE performance against industry standards or competitors?
Benchmarking OEE against industry standards involves identifying relevant benchmarks, analyzing internal data, setting SMART goals, and implementing Continuous Improvement and Lean methodologies, supported by Industry 4.0 technologies. [Read full explanation]
How are IoT technologies transforming the way OEE is monitored and optimized in real-time?
IoT technologies are transforming OEE monitoring by enabling real-time data collection and analysis, predictive maintenance, and improved operational visibility, significantly reducing downtime and supporting Continuous Improvement. [Read full explanation]

Source: Executive Q&A: OEE Questions, Flevy Management Insights, 2024


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