Assessment of Machine Condition and Maintenance Practices in a Textile Weaving Factory in Kano State

Textile manufacturing in Kano State represents one of Nigeria's historically significant industrial sectors, yet many weaving factories operate ageing machinery under maintenance regimes that are largely reactive rather than planned, contributing to high downtime rates and reduced product quality. This study assesses the condition of key production machinery and the maintenance management practices in operation at a selected large-scale weaving factory in the Challawa industrial estate, Kano. A structured audit was conducted covering shuttle looms, warping machines, and beaming equipment, using condition assessment checklists adapted from total productive maintenance frameworks. Maintenance records were reviewed to compute mean time between failures, mean time to repair, and overall equipment effectiveness for each machine category. Worker interviews and direct observation sessions were used to document current maintenance procedures and skill levels. Results showed that overall equipment effectiveness across the audited machines averaged 52 percent, significantly below the world-class benchmark of 85 percent, with availability losses accounting for the largest share of the shortfall. Mean time between failures for shuttle looms was 18 working hours, indicating a high breakdown frequency. The study recommends the introduction of a preventive maintenance schedule, spare parts inventory management, and operator-level autonomous maintenance routines as priority interventions. Keywords: machine condition assessment, maintenance management, textile weaving, overall equipment effectiveness, Kano State.