OEE Availability Formula: Improve Your Industrial Performance

In the industrial sector, equipment efficiency is crucial to maintaining high competitiveness and optimum profit margins. Low availability is often the main obstacle to improved performance, directly impacting on the OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness). Lack of availability, due to unplanned downtime and poor equipment management, can lead to serious production delays and increased costs. Mastering the formula for “availability” in OEE is therefore essential for any plant aiming to maximize its productivity. This key indicator helps quantify and improve machine uptime.

The causes of low availability can be multiple. Frequent breakdowns, waiting for spare parts, or inefficient production changes are often to blame. These factors generate unscheduled and prolonged downtime, adversely affecting overall productivity. By reducing availability, these interruptions increase the unit cost of production and reduce the ability to meet production schedules, directly affecting OEE. Plants without real-time monitoring have difficulty identifying these problems quickly, making the situation even worse.

To counter these challenges, several solutions can be implemented. Adopting continuous improvement methods such as Lean Manufacturing and Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) can significantly reduce downtime. Integrating digitalization tools, such as those from TeepTrak, offers real-time visibility and in-depth analysis of downtime, enabling rapid reaction. Investing in real-time performance monitoring systems such as TeepTrak ‘s PerfTrak OPC UA enables effective TRS/OEE management by optimizing visibility across multiple production lines.

A case in point is an automotive plant which, faced with frequent and unplanned stoppages, set up a real-time tracking system with TeepTrak. By analyzing the data collected, the plant was able to identify that 30% of its downtime was due to tool changeover problems. By applying TPM methodologies and effectively reprogramming its processes, it reduced its downtime by 25%, thus improving its availability rate, and consequently its OEE.

In conclusion, for any industrial company seeking to improve its performance, a focus on availability, one of the three key components of OEE, is crucial. Start by measuring rigorously with appropriate tools, and define priority actions based on accurate analysis. Integrating solutions like TeepTrak can significantly boost the sustainable, ongoing performance of your production lines. By following these principles, you pave the way to increased productivity and a sustainable competitive advantage.

FAQ

Question 1: How is availability calculated in the OEE?

Availability is calculated by dividing the Planned Production Time by the Total Time and multiplying the result by 100. This percentage reflects the time during which the equipment is actually productive.

Question 2: What impact does low availability have on OEE?

Low availability leads to frequent downtime, reducing productivity and increasing operating costs. This compromises the overall efficiency (OEE) of equipment.

Question 3: Where do you start to improve equipment availability?

Start by analyzing the main causes of downtime, invest in real-time tracking systems like those from TeepTrak, and apply continuous improvement programs like TPM.