Overall Equipment Effectiveness, or OEE, is an important metric to see how well a factory’s machines and production lines are working. OEE evaluates whether machines are performing their tasks efficiently, minimising time and material waste.
In the past, factory leaders would check this metric periodically, but now, thanks to new software systems such as POET, they can watch how their machines are doing at that very moment. This is called real-time monitoring.
Why is this real-time tracking so important, you might ask?
Basics of OEE Tracking
OEE looks at three key measures to see how well factory machines are doing:
- Availability: This measures whether the machines are operational or not. Good uptime indicates that a machine is running and not broken down, while downtime refers to periods when the machine is not working due to breakdowns or other reasons.
- Performance: This evaluates if the machines are operating at their optimal speed. If a machine is running slower than its maximum capability, it is not performing ideally.
- Quality: This assesses the quality of the products being made. Ideal quality means all products are flawless, whereas defects indicate that some items are not meeting the required standards.
For many companies, leaders will check these things at set intervals, collecting, recording, uploading and analysing the information by hand. But working with data in the past doesn’t enable you to steer your company in the present.
Using an OEE system such as POET ensures you can track everything with ease. No more finding out issues months after they’ve happened and have been happening. Know straight away, and act to remedy.
Contact POET Systems to learn more about how our system can help your response time to potential issues.
The Importance of Real-Time OEE Tracking
Immediate Response to Issues
Having OEE data available in real-time allows manufacturing teams to immediately address issues as they occur, such as machine breakdowns or slowdowns.
This quick action helps lessen the impact of problems, making it possible to solve them sooner, reduce downtime, and prevent minor issues from becoming major setbacks.
It also aids in maintaining quality control by rectifying defects, optimising machine performance, and potentially reducing repair costs by dealing with problems before they escalate.
Enhanced Decision-Making
Real-time data is vital for enabling managers and workers to make fast, informed decisions.
With up-to-date information, they can quickly see when adjustments are needed in their workflows or production schedules.
For example, if the data shows a shift in product quality, they can decide to slow down production and investigate immediately. Similarly, if the data indicates an increase in breakdowns, they can schedule increased maintenance activities.
This capability not only streamlines operations but also allows the team to respond nimbly to market changes, ensuring the business remains efficient and competitive.
Increased Productivity and Efficiency
Real-time tracking plays a pivotal role in transforming your manufacturing business by encouraging a proactive rather than reactive approach to operations.
With the continuous monitoring of the production process, operators gain a much clearer understanding of how their actions and performance directly influence Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE).
This visibility into the working of each aspect of manufacturing instils a sense of responsibility and awareness among the work-force. Employees become more engaged, knowing that their efficiency directly impacts the company’s output and success.
As a result, the workforce not only becomes more responsive but also more aligned with the company’s operational goals, driving a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence.
If you want to know how POET Systems can help to increase your productivity, contact us today.
The Impact of Tracking OEE on the Bottom Line
Tracking Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) is essential for boosting manufacturing efficiency and improving a company’s financial performance.
Here’s how effective OEE tracking with POET makes a difference:
Cost Savings
Implementing real-time OEE tracking systems leads to significant cost savings.
By continuously monitoring equipment, companies can drastically reduce downtime, minimise material waste, and avoid the costs associated with production errors.
This enhancement in operational efficiency directly lowers operational costs, positively affecting the company’s bottom line.
Better Resource Allocation
With access to live data, resources—both human and material—can be more effectively managed.
Real-time insights allow for the dynamic allocation of teams based on the immediate needs of the manufacturing process, optimising workforce utilisation.
Similarly, material resources are used more efficiently, ensuring inventory is optimised to minimise waste and reduce holding costs.
Such strategic resource allocation further streamlines operations, cutting down unnecessary expenses and maintaining a lean manufacturing process.
Using POET For Real-Time OEE Tracking
Assessing Current Capabilities
Through implementing POET, an assessment of your current data collection and handling processes is carried out by one of our expert advisers working with your team.
POET is designed to replace manual spreadsheets and automate data analysis, therefore it’s important to identify any inefficiencies or gaps in your current system.
This can include evaluating how data is captured on production lines, assessing the flow of information, and identifying areas where real-time data could significantly improve decision-making and identify performance bottlenecks.
Choosing the Right Tools and Software
POET offers a cloud-based OEE dashboard that’s accessible from anywhere, anytime, showcasing our commitment to digital transformation and user convenience.
When exploring POET’s offerings, it’s essential to take note of our visual management dashboards. These dashboards are designed to highlight significant improvement opportunities through the application of OEE principles.
Evaluating the features of POET is crucial to ensure they align with your unique business needs. Also, compatibility with your existing systems is a key consideration to guarantee seamless integration of POET into your infrastructure.
Training and Culture
POET Systems prides itself on a design that is accessible for users at all levels, from shop floor workers to CEOs.
This inclusive design philosophy suggests that training across the board can foster engagement with our tool among the entire work-force.
Ensuring everyone understands the value of real-time OEE data and their role in the implementation can lead to a culture of continuous improvement.
Begin OEE Tracking With POET
Tracking OEE in real-time is more than a manufacturing trend; it’s a means to secure a competitive edge in an increasingly demanding market.
POET Systems’ cloud-based solutions not only boost operational efficiency but also ensure quick problem-solving and cost-effectiveness, truly bringing your manufacturing processes into the digital age.
As technology continues to evolve, the gap between those who take advantage of real-time OEE tracking and those who don’t will likely widen. Now is the time to consider how real-time OEE monitoring can benefit your business.
Ready to explore real-time OEE tracking for your operations? Contact POET Systems to learn more about our OEE solutions today.