The role of industrial maintenance in the maquiladora industry: An empirical analysis

This study explored the role of industrial maintenance in the maquiladora industry. The maquiladora industry is a manufacturing system that utilizes the Mexican workforce and foreign investment and technology on the border region between the United States and Mexico. The issues related to industrial maintenance were studied through a survey instrument and 11 in-depth and extensive field interviews with experts of eight maquiladora industries in El Paso, TX and Juarez, Mexico. Based on an 86% response rate (with 131 usable questionnaires) and four major survey questions, statistical analyses were performed. The survey questions included: collaboration between the maintenance and other functional areas, likely sources of maintenance problems (equipment, personnel, and management), major common losses of maintenance problems, and the role of ISO certification in maintenance. Finally, additional insights and assessment of the results were provided.