PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to support total productive maintenance implementers by providing a roadmap for autonomous maintenance (AM) preparation phase.Design/methodology/approachThe authors use the axiomatic design (AD) methodology with lean philosophy as a paradigm.FindingsThis is an exploratory research to find the most important factors in AM preparation phase. A decoupled AD design ensures an effective usage of training within industry (TWI) and the introduction of standardized work (SW). TWI provides value in importance it assigns to leaders, with its “train the trainers” approach and in preparing a training program. Besides being an effective training method, TWI job instruction (TWI JI) provides needed information infrastructure to front load operators SW and equipment trainings.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough AD, TWI and lean artifacts are generally field proven, the research is limited due to the lack of an industrial application.Practical implicationsIn many real-life projects, companies do not know where to start and how to proceed, which leads to costly iterations. The proposed roadmap minimizes iterations and increases the chance of project success.Originality/valueThe authors apply AD for the first time to AM preparation phase despite it is used in the analysis of lean manufacturing. AD permits to structure holistically the most relevant lean manufacturing solutions to obtain a risk free roadmap. TWI has emerged as a training infrastructure; TWI JI-based operator SW training and the adaptation of JI structure to equipment training are original additions.

This study aims to provide an integrated methodology for re-designing the layout and departmental organisation in a job shop environment. While several studies have discussed the specific re-design or re-organisation of small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through simulation or mathematical models performing improvements, an integrated approach is rare. An integrated simulation-based methodology has been developed for simultaneously re-designing the layout and the departmental organisation of an SME manufacturing facility. A wooden chair manufacturing facility has been used as a case study. It is found that the developed methodology might be useful for other SME manufacturing firms, especially in the furniture industry. OPSOMMINGHierdie studie hou 'n geïntegreerde metodologie vir die herontwerp van uitleg en departementele rangskikking in 'n stukwerkwinkel voor. Terwyl verskeie studies die spesifieke herontwerp en herrangskikking van klein-en mediumgrootte ondernemings deur simulasie en wiskundige modelle probeer verbeter, is 'n geïntegreerde benadering raar. 'n Geïntegreerde simulasie-gebaseerde metodologie is ontwikkel en 'n vervaardigingsaanleg wat houtstoele produseer word as gevallestudie voorgehou. Die toepassing van die model word as nuttig beskou vir ander klein-tot mediumgrootte ondernemings in die meubelbedryf.