Exploring maintenance strategies in Chinese product manufacturing companies

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore maintenance strategies for manufacturing equipment in Chinese firms. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from Chinese companies using a questionnaire administered during face‐to‐face interviews and two established methodologies in strategic management research, exploratory factor analysis and cluster analysis, were used to analyze the data. Findings The results suggest that despite increasing competitive capabilities of Chinese firms, their maintenance strategies are often restricted to corrective maintenance. Only very few Chinese firms have already implemented predictive maintenance approach, total productive maintenance programs or the strategic outsourcing of maintenance activities. Research limitations/implications The research limitations stem from typical issues related to the use of exploratory factor analysis and cluster analysis (for example reliance on the subjective judgment of the researcher or the provision of clusters although no meaningful groups are embedded in the sample). Practical implications The findings highlight potential strategies for Chinese firms to improve their maintenance management. Originality/value This paper deals with a neglected area of operations management by exploring the maintenance approaches in fast growing Chinese manufacturing industries.