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Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide a picture of the maintenance management status in a sample of Moroccan industries through highlighting the most impacting factors. A preliminary framework of a maintenance management model is proposed on the basis of the study findings. Design/methodology/approach A mixed methods research (MMR), including qualitative and quantitative independent studies, was conducted in a sample of Moroccan industries. The process of collecting data involved submission of questionnaires to industrial managers and on-site visits. Analyzing case studies and correlations between maintenance factors were used to define the status of maintenance management. The preliminary framework of a maintenance management model was presented through a basic graph. Findings The surveyed companies have three levels of maintenance management: inner, medium and good. The most impacting maintenance factors include the top management policy and maintenance department approach. Most of the companies surveyed do not have an overall maintenance model, as most of decisions are based on random factors rather than the data analysis approach. The preliminary framework of maintenance management model involves the main factors with recommendations to improve maintenance management performance. Research limitations/implications The sample in this study is limited to seven companies in the qualitative study and thirty-one companies in the quantitative study. The informants are the industrial managers of those companies. In order to apply this maintenance model in industry, an advanced version of this model is to be developed through providing key performance indicators (KPI) and an implementation process for each factor, including other participants in the companies from top management and operational levels. Practical implications The study may contribute to assess maintenance management and to develop a framework of maintenance management models in industries, especially when no previous basic study was conducted in a specific context. Originality/value The original contribution of this paper is using MMR to develop a preliminary framework of a maintenance management model. This methodology aims to narrow the gap between academic studies and maintenance management in industries.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) represent an important component of the economy in both developed and developing countries. Nowadays, the competitive industrial environment is encouraging these companies to redesign their manufacturing practices. Lean manufacturing (LM) has been widely implemented in several industries and has been shown to have had a positive impact on the performance and development of companies. This review aims to examine this impact on the performance of manufacturing companies, to emphasize the recent progress of LM amongst SMEs worldwide, and to show that most successful LM initiatives are those implemented in SMEs and large companies. However, very small businesses (VSBs) are struggling to introduce LM into their management systems. A new approach has been developed to establish a new lean implementation framework that could be adapted to the specific context of VSBs.

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