Halim Mad Lazim

Total productive maintenance and manufacturing performance: Does technical complexity in the production process matter?

This paper intends to discuss some findings from a study of TPM practices in manufacturing organizations in Malaysia. Total productive maintenance (TPM), a resource-emphasized approach moves the paradigm of maintenance by putting emphasis on total employee involvement in the maintenance activities.We studied the relationship between TPM practices and manufacturing performance. We investigated the moderating effect of the level of technical complexity in the production process in the TPM practices and manufacturing performance relationships as well. Significant relationships were found between TPM practices and cost.We also found the moderating effect of technical complexity in the production process on the relationship between TPM practices and manufacturing performance.

Development of a flexible customised compression garment pattern design system

The paper highlighted a new method that can be used to construct a customised compression garment for athletes. The garment must be able to exert high pressure on the ankle and become lower towards the knee. The garment was generated using 3D data of an athlete’s body segment obtained by a non-invasive non-contact measurement system. Then, a 3D compression garment was generated using a novel modelling approach taking into account the properties of the fabric, how much pressure to be exerted and the curvature of body parts. The 3D garment model was then flattened into a 2D compression garment pattern design. Finally, an experiment was conducted to validate the system. The outcome of the research is a system that not only allows for the design of a customised compression garment, but also could be used to create a variety of compression garment that can exert different pressure.

The impact of preventive maintenance practices on manufacturing performance: A proposed model for SMEs in Malaysia

Preventive maintenance (PM) plays important role to avoid or mitigate potential stoppages and disruptions of equipment or machinery from occurring in daily operations. PM emphasized total employee involvement and it is important for companies as well as Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs). SME sectors contribution to the Malaysian economy makes up 95% of the total manufacturers, however PM remain relatively lacking. The ability, reliability and effective maintenance management is highly important in order to achieve desired manufacturing performance. Therefore, organizational capability in planning, controlling, implementing and monitoring PM activities is important. Furthermore, empirical evidence on the potential impact of PM practices towards manufacturing performance with organizational capability as a moderating effect is still limited and indecisive. Henceforth, this paper aims to explore and investigate potential relationships between PM practices and manufacturing performance moderated by or...

Manufacturing Technology Impact on Environmental Factors and Manufacturing Performance

The purpose of this study is to study the impact of manufacturing technology in facilitating lean manufacturers in achieving superior manufacturing performance while operating with by various challenges from external environment. The paper is based on a survey research done on lean manufacturers in Malaysia and their adoption of manufacturing technology to couple the implemented lean system in mitigating challenges. The challenges faced by lean manufacturing firms in many developing countries includes adopting the right technology, using it efficiently and continuously reviewing production technology in order to gain maximum output. Model from this empirical study is expected to contribute towards the enhancement of theory on contingency and its effect on performance. At theoretical level, the study results showed that of manufacturing technology mediate the relationship between environmental factors and performance of lean manufacturers.