British Aluminium Plate form part of the British Aluminium division of the LUXFER group of companies. At its manufacturing facility based in the Kitts Green suburb of Birmingham, it produces high technology aluminium alloys for the aerospace, defence adn general engineering industries. The Kitts Green plant is the only plate rolling mill in the UK. Its competitors are based mainly in mainland Europe and North America. Approximately 70% of all production is exported and its customer base is globally distributed. The paper in the book describes how the company has become successful in recent years by embracing a strategy of continuous improvement throughout its operation. The paper describes the tools and approaches deployed, and the role of all of its employees in achieving a remarkable turn-around in its fortunes. Particular focus is given to the introduction of Total Productive Maintenance (TPM); its impact on machine reliability; its 'fit' within the organisations new culture; and its impact upon traditional maintenance activities.

THE MAINTENANCE IMPROVEMENT PROCESS AT AYLESFORD NEWSPRINT LTD

Aylesford Newsprint Ltd are based on a 50 acre site in Aylesford, Kent where Newsprint has been manufctured since 1922. It employs 420 staff of which 120 are in the Maintenance Department and produces in excess of 380,000 tonnes of 100% recycled newsprint a year from 460,000 tonnes of used newspapers and magazines. It is a 24 hour, 365 days a year operation which supplies many of the newsprint publishers in the UK and mainland Europe. The maintenance staff are split into area based teams that cover the four process areas; paper machines 13 and 14, the Fibre Preparation Plant and Utilities. Each area has a Plant Engineer to control the daily maintenance activities and a Maintenance Engineer to look at the longer-term issues. There is also a Centralised Workshop facility for the refurbishment of plant and a Roll Workshop for the regrinding and maintenance of the (sometimes complex) rolls from the Paper Machines. Working alongside as a support team is the Maintenance Development Department, this includes; Condition Monitoring and Lubrication, Maintenance Systems administration and development and the Maintenance Develoment Engineers who propose and implement long term strategy and new maintenance techniques.

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