Implementing TPM

6Unions and TPM

The basic goals of North American unions do not conflict with the principles of TPM. If union leadership and membership understand TPM, they will not fear it. Management must take responsibility early in the process for involving union leadership to avoid misunderstandings and to clear the way for successful implementation.

Many companies question whether TPM implementation is possible in a union plant. They fear that the unions will object strongly to the shifting of maintenance responsibilities from craftspeople to the production operators. If management’s intent behind the shifting of these responsibilities is to reduce head count, unions certainly will resist. But TPM is an improvement methodology focusing on improving ...