Preventive maintenance is an enabler for operation excellence in support process

Purpose – The purpose of the paper is to analyse and determine how Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) can be applied within the support process as well as to identify possible effects from an employee and business perspective. Design/method/approach – A qualitative research approach was selected. Empirical data was gathered using semi-structured interviews at one case company, but from several teams, that had applied preventive maintenance. The result was then used to extrapolate how TPM can be applied in a support process as well as to identify business and employee effects. Findings – TPM in a Lean office environment can create values both in a business and an employee dimension. In the employee dimension TPM reduces the risk of missing/forgetting areas of responsibility and creates more involvement. In the business dimension objectives such as cost, quality and supporting the reduction of waste improved. Preventive maintenance meetings can be included and performed once a month in the ordinary departmental “stand-up meetings”. Methods like 5S, which need to be updated on a continuous basis, and standardized maintenance should also be connected to the TPM work. But first all employees should be trained in order to have the same direction/behavior. Originality/value – The paper gives practitioners a perspective on how TPM can be applied within the administrative processes in a production company.