Title: Reduction of response time during machine breakdown: a case study in semiconductor industry

Authors: Hasnida Ab-Samat; Poh Guat Khoe; Wai Shan Liau; Hsu Fen Tan; Wan Yee Yap; Shahrul Kamaruddin

Addresses: School of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Seberang Perai Selatan, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia ' School of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Seberang Perai Selatan, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia ' School of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Seberang Perai Selatan, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia ' School of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Seberang Perai Selatan, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia ' School of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Seberang Perai Selatan, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia ' School of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 14300 Nibong Tebal, Seberang Perai Selatan, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

Abstract: Maintenance is an important facet in manufacturing industry to ensure the equipment is constantly running at optimum condition. The aim of this paper is to improve maintenance system by reducing response time, which induces long total breakdown time. Response time can be defined as time once equipment breakdown occurs until it is fixed. It is directly influenced by human factors, as an example, the maintenance personnel that will perform the maintenance activities. This human factor issue is further investigated in terms of the time taken by operator, maintenance technician, maintenance clerk, and maintenance engineer to respond to machine breakdown during corrective maintenance cases. A new maintenance system is developed to improve the current maintenance system by minimising the human response time. The new system is developed in six phases with the use of methods such as chronology for current and improved maintenance system and value stream mapping (VSM) for comparing the response time between the two systems. The system is implemented in a semiconductor company and confirmed the importance of human factor in achieving lowest response time towards effective maintenance system.

Keywords: maintenance systems; response time; human factors; process flow charts; value stream mapping; VSM; case study; machine breakdown; semiconductor manufacturing; manufacturing industry.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLSM.2013.056159

International Journal of Logistics Systems and Management, 2013 Vol.16 No.2, pp.167 - 185

Published online: 26 Dec 2013 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article