OEE and Overtime

A number of requests have been received recently that point to a lack of clarity in the definition of Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE).  One of the questions we were recently asked is: How do you calculate OEE for Overtime hours? Overtime and OEE Our first response is quite simple.  OEE doesn’t care whether you are working overtime or straight time.  […]

Upcoming Topics for March 2009

We have received several topic requests that we will work on for the month of March, 2009.  If you have a topic that you would like to see featured on our site, send an e-mail to LeanExecution@gmail.com. OEE on the Shop Floor – Measurement:  What should we be measuring to make OEE practical at the shop floor level.  What factors […]

OEE and LEAN

Incorporating and tracking performance using Lean metrics doesn’t make a company Lean any more than tracking weight puts you on a diet.  Measurements are like decisions, nothing changes unless actions are taken. How does this apply to OEE?  How does OEE apply to LEAN?  As we’ve mentioned in previous posts, many companies invest a significant amount of time, money, and effort to develop exorbitant […]

OEE and Capacity Management

Capacity – Available or Required? From a scheduling perspective it is very easy to determine how much capacity (or time) will be required to manufacture a minimum quantity of parts.  However, it is not just a matter of multiplying the Standard Cycle Time by the Quantity of Parts and dividing by the part or process OEE %. As you may recall, the availability component of […]

Lean Culture

Background Being in business for many years is, and can be, both a blessing and a curse.  On one hand, the company has established itself and is well rooted in its chosen industry.  On the other hand, it has established and well rooted “behaviors” built on a culture that have stood the test of time.  This could be for better or worse. […]

Ten Tips to Lean

Lean can be applied to all types of businesses and spans across all facets within your current business.  A lean culture recognizes that waste is everywhere.  A focus on Value Added activities become the norm as waste continues to be identified and eliminated throughout the organization. It’s not just a manufacturing tool. A true lean strategy will lead to the transformation of the […]

Upcoming OEE Topics – February 2009

The following topics will be featured in an upcoming post, we’ll try to squeeze them in before February 2009 rolls off the calendar.  If you have a topic that you would like to see featured on our site, send an e-mail to LeanExecution@gmail.com. Capacity Planning with OEE:  By definition, it only makes sense to use OEE as an integral part of your […]

OEE and Morale

Is employee morale impacting your OEE?  If so, how much of a concern is it?  As we wrote in one of our recent posts,  “Perhaps the greatest “external” influence on current manufacturing operations is the rapid collapse of the automotive industry in the midst of our current economic “melt down”.  The changes in operating strategy to respond to this new crisis are bound to have an effect on OEE […]

OEE Measurement Error

How many times have you, or someone you know, challenged the measurement process or method used to collect the data because the numbers just “don’t make sense” or “can’t be right”? It is imperative to have integrity in the data collection process to minimize the effect of phantom improvements through measurement method changes.  Switching from a manual recording system to […]