Principal investigator: Emory W. Zimmers, Jr.
University: Lehigh University
Industry partner: Schott Advanced Optics
Schott Advanced Optics was founded in Duryea, Pennsylvania, in 1969 and prides itself on its deep technological expertise for applications in optics, lithography, astronomy, opto-electronics, life sciences, and research. The Duryea site is a key part of a global corporation. To maintain its competitive edge in highly specialized optics, the Duryea site continuously strives to improve its technical capabilities. This focus has enabled Duryea to maintain its competitive advantage over competitors and other internal global manufacturing locations. In a truly efficient organization, asset care cannot be the sole responsibility of the maintenance team. This project will focus on implementing a formal SAP-based total preventative maintenance (TPM) program into the Duryea site’s melting and facilities operations. The current process is manual, informal, and inconsistent. This project initiative is viewed as a critical step-change innovative technology effort to increase equipment utilization and labor productivity in the Melting and Facilities operations.