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FOOD PROCESSING

Autonomous Maintenance

FOOD PROCESSING

Autonomous Maintenance

Operators who care for their equipment. Processes that prevent failure. Results that last.

Equipment breakdowns don’t just slow production—they put safety, quality, and profitability at risk. For many manufacturers and food processors, maintenance is still reactive, expensive, and disconnected from daily operations. At CIFT, we help you change that.

Autonomous Maintenance (AM) empowers frontline operators to take ownership of the machines they use every day. With the right training and support, they don’t just spot issues—they prevent them. Our team helps you build the systems and routines that restore equipment, standardize upkeep, and sustain performance over time.

Why It Matters

Traditional maintenance models put all the responsibility on technicians. But when operators are equipped to restore, inspect, and care for their machines, the results are powerful:

Fewer breakdowns and stoppages
Reduced maintenance costs
Improved safety and product quality
Greater operator engagement and skill-building

Autonomous Maintenance is a foundational pillar of Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) and supports broader Lean and Continuous Improvement strategies.

Autonomous Maintenance is especially valuable for:

Autonomous Maintenance is especially valuable for:

Manufacturers or food processors with recurring downtime or machine-related defects
Teams pursuing Lean Manufacturing or TPM implementation
Facilities with high maintenance costs or low operator involvement
Organizations seeking a more stable and efficient production process

How It Works: Our Approach

CIFT guides your team through a practical, step-by-step process to implement Autonomous Maintenance effectively. We begin with preparation—identifying cross-functional teams, setting goals, and assessing current equipment conditions. From there, operators perform an initial deep cleaning of their machines, restoring them to a baseline condition while identifying and fixing defects that may have gone unnoticed.

Once the equipment is restored, we focus on eliminating sources of contamination or wear and standardizing procedures to prevent these issues from returning. This includes documenting best practices and building clear expectations into daily operations. Finally, we help your team adopt Clean, Inspect, and Lubricate (CIL) routines, which empower operators to keep machines in top condition through consistent, proactive care. These routines create sustainable habits, reduce reliance on emergency fixes, and build a culture of shared ownership.

What You Can Expect:

Up to 75% reduction in minor stops
Extended equipment life
Fewer emergency repairs
Higher product quality and consistency
A culture of shared ownership and continuous improvement

Ready to Put Maintenance in Motion?

Our experts are ready to guide you through Autonomous Maintenance—whether it’s part of a full TPM strategy or a targeted solution for a recurring issue. Let’s build the foundation for sustainable performance, one step at a time.

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Contact Us to Schedule Autonomous Maintenance Services.

    Our Phone:
    +419.535.6000
    Our Address:
    5555 Airport Highway, Suite 100
    Toledo, OH, 43615-7320

    Northwest Ohio Cooperative Kitchen (NOCK)

    13737 Middleton Pike
    Bowling Green, OH 43402