Abstract
TPM is an effective management technology which has been implemented in domestic and foreign many companies and/or plants in order to get remarkable effects. TPM (Total Production Management) as a more company-wide management innovation has been evolved from the Japanese style Total Productive Maintenance which the origin is Preventive Maintenance, the American style maintenance technology. This article shows key activities and roles of pioneers and organizations such as JIPM and the TPM Excellent Award Committee which have contributed enormously to the evolution and/or development processes of the TPM, and then clarifies core concepts and backgrounds for basic ways of thinking such as definitions on TPM, organizational deployment such as step approach and overlap small group activity, and methodology and techniques such as PM analysis and approach to minor stoppage loss. Further the future subjects and prospects are mentioned for realizing the more effective TPM which could adapt proactively the changing environment.
