Goodbye Delphi, hello clarity: OEE provides an overview

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micromechanics

Goodbye Delphi, hello clarity: OEE provides an overview

In ancient times, those seeking advice asked the Oracle of Delphi to clear the mists of the future. The experts at the Immendingen TechCenter, on the other hand, rely on analyzing overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) when it comes to future-proof production solutions for the medical industry.

In the age of precision and innovation, uncertainty is paradoxically the greatest challenge for suppliers to the medical industry,” says Michael Paulus, Head of TechCenter Immendingen at Starrag Vuadens, during discussions with customers. “How can I be sure that the machine I buy today won’t be outdated tomorrow and make me work inefficiently?” customers ask.

This is particularly important for manufacturers of medical products who demand the highest levels of accuracy and reliability. Paulus: “In medical technology, even the smallest deviations can have serious consequences. Our customers therefore expect machines that are not only precise, but also extremely reliable.” The challenge now is to guarantee this precision in a production environment that is increasingly characterized by rapid market changes and high flexibility requirements.

“From this point of view, the Starrag product area ‘Bumotec’ deals with the issue of overall equipment effectiveness (OEE),” explains Paulus. OEE stands for ‘Overall Equipment Effectiveness’ and is used by Bumotec experts as an important performance indicator for evaluating the productivity and efficiency of devices and machines.

Performance rates how efficiently the device works during operation – in comparison to its maximum possible speed.

Paulus: “Slow cycle times and minor failures reduce performance and overall productivity. A higher performance indicates that the device is working closer to its maximum capabilities.”

Success stands and falls with the third factor: Quality. This is because it measures the proportion of products manufactured in accordance with quality standards compared to total production: It takes into account errors, rework and rejects. High quality shows that the manufacturer effectively controls the process and complies with the specified quality standards. Bumotec analyzes typical problems and develops targeted strategies to improve overall performance.

“ With an OEE process, we can specifically identify and eliminate inefficiencies and sources of loss within operational production times in order to increase efficiency and profitability.”

René Benninger, Business Development Manager Medtech

“The basic accuracy of customer products has increased and remains at a consistently high level,” emphasizes Paulus. Today, material logistics is hardly an issue. Benninger: “The use of bar material eliminates the need for cutting to size, which simplifies the production process and makes material handling more efficient.” A positive side effect: Personnel expenses will also fall.

The OEE process is also well received by customers. Paulus: “A medium-sized user told us briefly and concisely about the advantages of a successful OEE process: ’In the morning, I stock up on materials, set up a few tools if necessary and can then concentrate on running the business all day.’ That proves it: An optimally applied OEE process not only increases efficiency and productivity, but also reduces operating costs and ensures quality.”