Date:01/10/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/10/01/stories/2007100150920200.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Fenner strives for quality award

Staff Reporter

Patancheru (Medak dt): Fenner (India) Ltd, unit here has embarked on a journey to receive Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) award under renowned Japanese management Guru Yoshio Egami of JIPM solutions. Yoshio was here and at the Fenner’s Madurai unit recently to kick start the process aimed to achieve manufacturing excellence.

Explaining the concept general manager (operations) D. J. Ravi Kumar told The Hindu that implementation of the TPM in the 800 strong unit here would improve productivity and cut down costs . The unit has decided to achieve a zero accident, zero complains, zero defects and zero break down unit within three years of time. As per the guidelines of the Japanese Guru, Fenner has started refurbishing the machinery in such way that the worker would no longer transfer the burden of repair on to the next level in the hierarchy. Each part of the machine is now made visible to the worker so that he would know its condition.

Willing for change

Workers Union president Y. Nagabhushanam who was consulted before the start of the TPM gave his consent saying that the workers would play their part in increasing productivity. The conditioning of the staff began by launching health awareness campaigns and social works .

The unit has adopted a village, and sponsored a class in the Patancheru Government college.