APPLICATION OF TOTAL PRODUCTIVE MAINTENANCE IN A MANUFACTURING PROCESS OF CARDBOARD BOXES UNDER LEAN SIX SIGMA DMAIC METHODOLOGY

Abstract

Two key elements for improving supply chain performance are total productive maintenance (TPM) and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE). This paper proposes a TPM strategy for managing and autonomously maintaining four die-cutting machines for cardboard boxes to enhance production flow. Using the DMAIC cycle (define, measure, analyse, improve, control), maintenance activities were classified and efficiency measured through OEE and sigma metrics. After the first improvement cycle, the OEE and sigma metrics increased by an average of 21%, boosting productivity, quality, and efficiency. The study concludes that strategies based on preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance significantly enhance supply chain performance in a Lean Six Sigma framework, and could be applied to other processes.