5 Preventive Maintenance Lessons for Manufacturing Managers from PMM Cartoons

The Preventive Maintenance Monthly (PMM) cartoons were a series of educational cartoons published by the U.S. Department of Defense since June 1951, that aimed to educate military personnel on preventive maintenance practices. While the cartoons targeted military personnel, their lessons can be applied to various industries, including manufacturing.

Here are some things you can learn from the PMM cartoons that can help you improve your fix at first in manufacturing:
 

• Pay Attention to the Details
  
  The PMM cartoons often emphasize the importance of paying attention to detail when it comes to maintenance. In manufacturing, paying attention to detail can help you identify potential issues before they become big problems. This can include checking for loose bolts or worn components during routine maintenance.
   
• Use the Right Tools
  
  The PMM comics frequently show characters using specialized tools to complete maintenance tasks. Using the right tools can help you perform maintenance tasks efficiently and effectively in manufacturing, such as torque wrenches, multimeters, and other diagnostic tools.
   
• Follow Procedures
  
  The Preventive Maintenance Monthly also highlights the importance of following procedures when it comes to maintenance. Following procedures can help ensure maintenance tasks are performed correctly and consistently. And this way, it can help prevent errors and reduce downtime.
   
• Collaborate
  
  The PMM cartoons often show characters working together to complete maintenance tasks. In manufacturing, collaboration can help you identify potential issues more quickly and come up with more effective solutions by collaborating with other maintenance technicians, engineers, or production personnel.
   
• Be Proactive
  
  In manufacturing, being proactive can help you identify potential issues before they become big problems. For example, performing routine maintenance on a regular schedule, even if there are no apparent issues.
   

The Preventive Maintenance Monthly cartoons can teach you valuable lessons about preventive maintenance practices in manufacturing. By paying attention to detail, using the right tools, following procedures, collaborating, and being proactive, you can improve your fix at first and reduce downtime in your manufacturing operations.
 

Premiere issue of PS - PMM (June 1951). Art by Will Eisner.