A blueprint paradox. Issue 4 (7th October 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rolfsen, Monica
• Is Part Of: Journal of quality in maintenance engineering. Volume 20:Issue 4(2014)
• Page Start: 402
• Page End: 414
• Publication Date: 2014-10-07
• Subjects: Plant maintenance -- Quality control -- Periodicals; Total quality management -- Periodicals; Total productive maintenance -- Periodicals; 658.202
• DOI: 10.1108/JQME-07-2012-0024
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1355-2511

Abstract

<abstract> <title> <x content-type="archive" xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec> <title content-type="abstract-heading">Purpose</title> <p> – The purpose of this paper is to investigate if a manufacturing concept such as total productive maintenance (TPM) can be copied from one location to another. </p> </sec> <sec> <title content-type="abstract-heading">Design/methodology/approach</title> <p> – Qualitative data were gathered from a single case. This includes interviews, participatory observation and document collection. </p> </sec> <sec> <title content-type="abstract-heading">Findings</title> <p> – The authors present a company with an intention to make a pure copy from one location to another, and with identical technology, production equipment, owners, customers and products, the conditions for copying should thus be as sufficient as possible. However, several minor adjustments led to a translated version showing better results than the original. </p> </sec> <sec> <title content-type="abstract-heading">Research limitations/implications</title> <p> – The paper provides a deep understanding of a unique case, but should be supplemented with more data in order to reach general conclusions. The main theoretical contribution is to develop an understanding of translation processes different from copying concepts by expanding models of change and transfer from a purely planned perspective to explaining success through the unplanned change of organizational vehicles better fit to the intended tools and techniques. </p> </sec> <sec> <title content-type="abstract-heading">Practical implications</title> <p> – Many companies struggle with implementing total productive maintenance, and implementation and translation aspects are lacking in the literature. The paper provides an understanding on how TPM-practice was changed and adjusted when travelling from one location to another within the same company. </p> </sec> <sec> <title content-type="abstract-heading">Originality/value</title> <p> – Few case studies on TPM and implementation have been described. The authors show in detail how minor adjustments led to wider changes, arguing that a pure copy is not possible. By including institutional theory focusing on translation, new insight on implementation of TPM is provided.</p> </sec> </abstract>