Maintenance practices and overall equipment effectiveness: testing the moderating effect of training

Abstract

PurposeThis study aims to identify the relationship between different maintenance practices and productive efficiency in continuous process productive plants as well as the moderating effect of good training practices.Design/methodology/approachThe empirical data were drawn from a database containing 609 observations of 29 productive units. Scales were validated using the Q-sort method. The panel data technique was used as the analysis methodology, with the inclusion of fixed effects for each productive plant.FindingsMaintenance practices can effectively contribute to increasing the overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) of firms. Application of predictive maintenance practices should be considered as the primary training tool.Research limitations/implicationsThis study used a secondary database, limiting the research design and data manipulation.Practical implicationsThe article provides practitioners with an analysis of maintenance practices by category (predictive, preventive and corrective), and the impact of each practice on the OEE of continuous process productive plants. Moreover, it explores the importance of training for extracting more results from maintenance practices.Social implicationsCompanies are investing in new technologies, but it is also essential to invest in training people. There is a demand for Industry 4.0 through the introduction of upskilling and reskilling programs.Originality/valueThis study used practice-based view (PBV) theory to explain how maintenance practices help firms achieve greater OEE. Furthermore, it introduced training practice as a moderating variable in the relationship between maintenance practices and OEE.

Challenges and Enablers in Recruiting Maintenance Employees

“…The need for training of maintenance employees is well-documented in literature, with studies highlighting the importance of training in various areas such as total productive maintenance [25], building services [26], industry [27], and medical equipment maintenance [28], among others. There have been arguments that many maintenance staff are lacking in appropriate training, both at the time of hiring and throughout their careers [27]. Furthermore, it is also argued that workers are ill-equipped to handle the overload of information associated with Industry 4.0 [27].…”

“…There have been arguments that many maintenance staff are lacking in appropriate training, both at the time of hiring and throughout their careers [27]. Furthermore, it is also argued that workers are ill-equipped to handle the overload of information associated with Industry 4.0 [27]. Even with the advent of Industry 4.0, tasks requiring experience, intuition, creativity, or decision-making based on uncertainty will still reside with humans, and that training and retraining of the workforce is one of the biggest challenges in implementing Industry 4.0 [6].…”

Examining critical project management skills for successful delivery of major maintenance projects: insights from the United Kingdom energy sector

“…To ensure that the developers continue to receive the benefits of operating in this environment and that competitive advantage is maintained, the assets will need to be maintained and upgrades will sometimes be required. Duarte and Scarpin (2022) noted that there is a relationship between maintenance and production, by which maintenance is a support activity that ensures that the production function can achieve the targets of production.…”

“…To ensure that the developers continue to receive the benefits of operating in this environment and that competitive advantage is maintained, the assets will need to be maintained and upgrades will sometimes be required. Duarte and Scarpin (2022) noted that there is a relationship between maintenance and production, by which maintenance is a support activity that ensures that the production function can achieve the targets of production. Lenahan (2005) and Levitt (2004) also acknowledged that maintenance and production have a shared relationship; however, they both continue to explore significant maintenance projects further and recognize that these events conflict with just about everything else going on at any time (Levitt, 2004).…”