JMA and the relationship of JMA and JIPM
Ever wondered how TPM went from a factory floor experiment to a global manufacturing gold standard? It all comes down to a powerful partnership.
Many professionals use the terms JMAC and JIPM interchangeably when talking about Total Productive Maintenance (TPM). But while they are sister organizations within the Japan Management Association (JMA) Group, they play entirely distinct—and highly complementary—roles. Think of them as the Coach and the Umpire of the operational excellence world:
JMAC (JMA Consultants): The Implementation Architect
Born in 1942, JMAC is Japan’s oldest management consulting firm. In the 1950s and 60s, legendary JMAC consultant Seiichi Nakajima (the "Father of TPM") worked with Nippondenso (DENSO) to pioneer the concept of operator-led autonomous maintenance. Today, JMAC Global (https://global.jmac.co.jp/) serves as the boots-on-the-gemba coach, actively training teams, building frameworks, and guiding global factories through their TPM transformations.
🏅 JIPM (Japan Institute of Plant Maintenance): The Standard & EvaluatorAs TPM expanded, JMA spun off a dedicated public-interest body in 1981: JIPM. JIPM is the official custodian and trademark owner of the TPM methodology. They don't consult; instead, they act as the ultimate objective judge, establishing the rigid criteria for the world-renowned JIPM TPM Awards.
The Synergy:You work with JMAC to build and perfect your manufacturing ecosystem. You apply to JIPM to audit and certify that your ecosystem is genuinely world-class.
Check out the infographic below to see how this dual-engine framework drives zero-loss manufacturing globally!
The History of the TPM Award
TPM, originally known as the “PM Award,” was initiated in 1964 by the JMA (Japan Management Association) to encourage factories to achieve remarkable manufacturing successes.
The awarding criteria were revised in 1971 to cover the total participation of all areas of the factory to support production, transforming the PM Award into the “TPM Award." The JIPM (Japan Institute of Plant Maintenance) was established as a charitable corporation in 1981.
In response to ongoing developments, the definition of TPM was refined in 1989. This refinement helped TPM evolve from a maintenance-focused approach to a broader business management strategy that improved productivity, quality, and overall efficiency across an organization.
After redefining TPM, the JIPM introduced the concept of eight pillars to cover all aspects of operations in the early 1990s. The first award issued outside Japan took place in 1991. The TPM Awards now involve the entire company—from the shop floor to the executive boardroom—fostering a genuine companywide commitment to manufacturing excellence.
The Japanese took heart in the teachings of Shewhart, Deming, Juran, and Feigenbaum and began building one of the most powerful economic nations on earth. In 1971, the JMA created various awards for PM progress. In 1981, the JIPM put the TPM body of knowledge into action and issued the JIPM TPM Awards. Today, the total body of knowledge for TPM is documented and shared globally by the JIPM. The table below lists the locations that received TPM Excellence awards in the United States from 1964 through 2023.
TPM Excellence awards for American locations from 1991 through 2023 | |||
Company name | Awards | 1st award | Last award |
Hitachi Cable Indiana, Inc. (America) | 1 | 1998 | 1998 |
Michigan Automotive Compressor, Inc. (America) | 1 | 1998 | 1998 |
Subaru-Isuzu Automotive Inc. (America) | 2 | 1998 | 2001 |
Phillips 66 Company, A Subsidiary of Phillips Petroleum Company, Sweeny Refinery and Petrochemical Complex (America) | 1 | 1998 | 1998 |
Milliken | 44 | 1999 | 2003 |
Motorola Inc. Sector Materials Organization (America) | 1 | 1999 | 1999 |
Matsushita Compressor Corporation of America (MCCA) (America) | 1 | 2000 | 2000 |
Ogihara America Corporation Howell Division (America) | 1 | 2001 | 2001 |
Unilever | 14 | 2001 | 2012 |
Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Company, P & G Jackson, Tennessee - Snacks (America) | 1 | 2002 | 2002 |
Tetra Pak | 9 | 2002 | 2017 |
General Seating of America, Inc. (America) | 1 | 2002 | 2002 |
Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation of America (America) | 1 | 2003 | 2003 |
Sanden Corporation Sanden International (U.S.A.) Inc. (America) | 1 | 2003 | 2003 |
Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. (America) | 1 | 2003 | 2003 |
Elsa LLC. (America) | 1 | 2003 | 2003 |
Ogihara America Corporation Alabama Division (America) | 1 | 2003 | 2003 |
CARAVAN INGREDIENTS, Kansas Avenue (America) | 1 | 2008 | 2008 |
H.C. Brill Company | 2 | 2008 | 2008 |
Nifco America, Canal Winchester Facility (America) | 1 | 2009 | 2009 |
Wrigley | 2 | 2009 | 2013 |
INX International Ink Co., Edwardsville, Kansas (America) | 1 | 2010 | 2010 |
Grupo Jumex | 2 | 2014 | 2014 |
Owens Corning Composite Materials Owens Corning Jackson, TN Plant（America） | 1 | 2018 | 2018 |
Lindt & Sprüngli USA Inc. Stratham NH (America) | 2 | 2019 | 2021 |
Novembal USA | 2 | 2021 | 2022 |
Owens Corning Non-Woven Tech | 2 | 2022 | 2022 |
Owens Corning Owens Corning - Charleston | 1 | 2023 | 2023 |
Grand Total | 99 | ||
TPM database – Japan Institute of Plant Maintenance. (2023). Retrieved March 26, 2023, from https://jipmglobal.com/service/tpm-database | |||
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