When used in real time, OEE becomes one of the most powerful tools for optimising production and increasing your organisation’s profitability. In this article, we’ll show you how to enhance the efficiency of your equipment and operations.
What is OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness)?
Before exploring real-time OEE, it’s important to understand what OEE actually is. The Overall Equipment Effectiveness is a metric that measures the overall performance of a piece of production equipment or an entire production line. This metric takes into account three key factors: Availability, Performance, and Quality.
Availability
This refers to the amount of time equipment is actually running and producing compared to the total scheduled time. It is calculated as follows:
We should also bear in mind that operating time refers to the total time that the equipment should be available, excluding scheduled downtime.
Performance
Performance is the actual production speed compared to the equipment’s maximum theoretical speed. The formula is:a:
Here, Ideal Cycle Time refers to the time required to produce one unit under optimal conditions, while Total Units Produced refers to the number of units manufactured during operating time.
Quality
This measures the percentage of good units produced that meet quality standards. It is calculated as:
Good Units are those without defects, and Total Units Produced refers to the complete number of units manufactured during the production process.
Once these three factors are calculated, they are multiplied together to give the OEE score, resulting in a value between 0% and 100%. The closer to 100%, the higher the efficiency of the equipment or workstation.
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Real-time OEE with proGrow and Its Benefits
Real-time OEE is a dynamic approach to measuring equipment efficiency. Instead of calculating OEE at periodic intervals, it provides live insights into how equipment is performing. This allows companies to quickly identify issues and apply corrective actions without having to wait for, say, the results of a monthly report.
Here are just a few of the many benefits of using real-time OEE with proGrow:
Reduced downtime
Our tool allows you to instantly identify issues, helping to reduce unplanned downtime of your machines and equipment. One of our clients, Lipimalhas, achieved a 39% reduction in unplanned stoppages—equivalent to a 38-minute decrease per machine, per day.
Increased Productivity
ProGrow helps identify production bottlenecks and allows companies to take action to improve operational efficiency. Its implementation led to a potential increase of €760,000 per year in efficiency results at Nestlé Portugal. Improving equipment efficiency typically leads to increased production capacity, which in turn can translate into higher profits.
Improved Quality and Decision-Making
Monitoring quality in real time helps prevent the production of defective products. Real-time data empowers any organisation to make well-informed decisions around maintenance, production planning, and resource allocation.
Increased Profits
Improving equipment efficiency usually results in increased production capacity, which can translate into increased profits.
Ready to Get the Most from Your Data?
By taking a proactive approach to equipment efficiency management, your organisation will be at the forefront of today’s competitive market.
Don’t wait any longer—get in touch with one of our experts today to learn more about proGrow and discover the benefits of more efficient, profitable production.
Want to calculate your organisation’s OEE? Try out our calculator and see your score!
