Thailand mining company takes on Australia’s best from the food and pharmaceutical industry

This year's "˜Aussie Cup' TPM3 team competition is shaping up to be an international affair.

With 16 entries from leading companies throughout Australia, the competition has been extended to four finalists who will present at Australia's 12th TPM3 annual forum in Melbourne at the Airport Motel & Convention Centre, 16 August 2006.

The finalists are:

• Banpu Coal Mining Lampang Mine in Thailand;
• CSL Bioplasma Plasma Processing Plant in Broadmeadows Melbourne;
• Fonterra Australia's Cororooke Cheese Plant in Western Victoria;
• Simplot Australia's Bathurst Vegetable Processing Plant in Western NSW.

Each team will be given half an hour to persuade the judging panel of TPM3 experts from independent companies (not competing) throughout Australia.

Last year's winner was Simplot Australia's Leggo Tomato Paste Processing Plant in Echuca Victoria.

Banpu Lampang Mine commenced its TPM3 journey in October 2003 and in March 2006 at the New Zealand TPM3 Annual Forum was awarded Level 3 of the 5 Level Milestone TPM3 Excellence Award. Its Maintenance Improvement Team will be sharing with the audience how its members have been able to save over $130,000 for their company by improving the management of their spare parts.

CSL Bioplasma commenced its TPM3/Australasian Lean journey in August 2003 and is in its 7th cycle of TPM3 activity. Its "˜Tunnel Vision' team members will be sharing how they made many tangible and intangible improvements including an 81% reduction in down time loss in its bottle preparation area.

The Fonterra Australia Cororooke Site commenced its TPM3/Australasian Lean journey in November 2005 and is now in its 3rd cycle of TPM3 with over 30% of its employees currently involved in improvement team activity. The "˜Tear It & Bag It' team members will be sharing how they improved first pass quality by 20% and capacity by 70% on their cheese bagging line.

The Simplot Australia Bathurst Site commenced its TPM3/Australasian Lean journey in December 2004 and is now in its 6th cycle of TPM3 activity. Its "˜Hot Peppers' team members will share how they commissioned their new capsicum processing line resulting in significant gains in safety, capacity, recovery and morale.

Over 35 sites in Australia, New Zealand, Thailand and Indonesia, covering some 12 industry groups, are currently progressing their TPM3/Australasian Lean journey to World Class Performance and achieving significant improvements in safety, capacity, quality, delivery, productivity, morale and bottom line results.

For more information about the TPM3 Annual Forum, visit The Centre for TPM.