Where numbers can trick you

Numbers don’t lie, but they can try to trick you. OEE is a great metric that should be considered, but it does not tell the whole story. A plant could have a higher OEE because they were trying to hit a target number and, “They justified the high number by ignoring vital plant processes and activities. And instead of solving problems along the way, they ignored them in the name of better final numbers. The problems were allowed to fester and grow.” If you want to get better be honest with yourself and focus on the problems. MachineMetrics can improve your OEE the right way so you see real results, because that is what it’s all about.

Recommended ReadWhen You Can't Count On NumbersSource: http://www.industryweek.com

Grade school math teachers are fond of saying that numbers can’t lie. Maybe so, but they can be misleading. In the case of manufacturing, it is a common standard to measure plant productivity by looking at Overall Equipment Effectiveness or OEE. It is measured by looking at how effective a plant is running in the areas of availability, performance and quality. However, holding OEE as the primary metric of success for a plant can be problematic and even short sighted. Here is a case in point. On one plant’s floor we have a 70% OEE number. On another plant floor we have a “world-class” rating of 90%. It would seem to be an open and shut case that the 90% plant floor is more effective. A closer look shows that just isn’t always the case. Let me explain further. Read More