Real-time OEE
Since its development in Japan in the 1970’s OEE has grown in use in the West as an easily implemented measurement of machine efficiency. Its use has been due to many factors, not least the increasing pressures of globalisation and the continuing need to cut costs and improve quality.
The simplicity of the OEE formula makes it easy to calculate and allows any manufacturer to gauge their efficiency without any capital expenditure from data collected and processed by existing staff. However this actually introduces problems for businesses that want to target the so called “World Class” levels of OEE and hampers their efforts.
Availability - Manually collecting and processing data means that OEE information is not available “on demand”. A time lag occurs between collecting the data and processing the actual OEE figure.
Accuracy – Despite best intentions manual collection and processing of data introduces inaccuracies. The ability for humans to gauge a period of time is poor. But just how accurate does the data need to be? If you consider that many users of OEE will be targeting improvements of 1-3% if the input data isn’t highly accurate then it just cannot be relied upon. 1% accuracy equates to 36 seconds in one hour or 3 seconds over a 5 minute period. If a stoppage lasted 5 minutes and 3 seconds what would a person estimating the time actually account for?
Inefficiency – Tying up staff time collecting and processing data is actually introducing inefficiency. If that time was not required the staff involved could be doing more value added work or may not actually be required at all.
One answer to these problems is through the use of a real time OEE system that automates data collection and processing. By capturing machine utilization data directly from the shop floor to a central PC that calculates OEE in real time you get accurate information on demand. Staff inefficiency is also reduced – allowing them to do more value added work.
The simplicity of the OEE formula makes it easy to calculate and allows any manufacturer to gauge their efficiency without any capital expenditure from data collected and processed by existing staff. However this actually introduces problems for businesses that want to target the so called “World Class” levels of OEE and hampers their efforts.
Availability - Manually collecting and processing data means that OEE information is not available “on demand”. A time lag occurs between collecting the data and processing the actual OEE figure.
Accuracy – Despite best intentions manual collection and processing of data introduces inaccuracies. The ability for humans to gauge a period of time is poor. But just how accurate does the data need to be? If you consider that many users of OEE will be targeting improvements of 1-3% if the input data isn’t highly accurate then it just cannot be relied upon. 1% accuracy equates to 36 seconds in one hour or 3 seconds over a 5 minute period. If a stoppage lasted 5 minutes and 3 seconds what would a person estimating the time actually account for?
Inefficiency – Tying up staff time collecting and processing data is actually introducing inefficiency. If that time was not required the staff involved could be doing more value added work or may not actually be required at all.
One answer to these problems is through the use of a real time OEE system that automates data collection and processing. By capturing machine utilization data directly from the shop floor to a central PC that calculates OEE in real time you get accurate information on demand. Staff inefficiency is also reduced – allowing them to do more value added work.
