A systems thinking perspective of maintenance, operations, and process quality

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-1-2000

Abstract

Drawing from observations made at a couple of manufacturing firms, this paper weaves together behavioral aspects of process improvement and maintenance concepts with ongoing commitments to operations management goals. Causal loop diagramming, part of the system dynamics tool-kit, is used to structure the interrelated nature of involved concepts and variables. An objective is to offer insights from a systems perspective. The paper offers behavioral explanation for limited success in implementing improvement programs and suggests reversing the traditional "maintenance service supplier-and-customer relationship" between maintenance and operations.

Publication Title

Journal of Quality in Maintenance Engineering

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