A graph theoretic approach to evaluate the intensity of barriers in the implementation of total productive maintenance (TPM)

Total productive maintenance (TPM) is an innovative approach to maintenance which holds the potential for enhancing effectiveness of production facilities. But, implementation of TPM is not an easy task. Innumerable barriers are encountered in real-life cases during TPM implementation. It is very essential to evaluate the nature and impact of these barriers so that production and maintenance managers can cultivate some strategies to overcome these barriers. In the present exertion, a graph theoretic approach has been applied to find the intensity of these barriers through an index which is computed through a permanent function obtained from the digraph of TPM barriers.