Improving effectiveness of manufacturing systems using total quality maintenance

In manufacturing systems intelligent techniques are being used to integrate and interpret data from multiple sensors to predict tool wear and tool life. Less attention is devoted to developments of integrated condition monitoring systems, which enable the user to evaluate a multi‐variant system based on the data collected from, e.g. maintenance, quality, production, etc. In this paper we discussed different approaches of how to keep availability, quality and productivity at high levels. Also, we proposed a new approach for an expert system concept, which is characterised by using a total quality maintenance (TQMain) concept; having a common database, and a continuously improved knowledge base with an intelligent inference engine. It can enhance data reliability, decision making certainty, remove the redundancy in monitoring systems, and allow the user to detect and eliminate reasons behind variations through effective diagnosis and prognosis. This will enhance the performance‐efficiency, availability and quality rate, i.e. overall equipment effectiveness of the manufacturing systems.