What is OEE in manufacturing and 10 equipment visuals to boost your OEE score

Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) is a manufacturing metric that helps determine the degree to which equipment is effectively utilized. Often, it’s a component of an overall lean manufacturing process. OEE is measured by analyzing three critical factors (availability, performance and quality) to help companies gain insight into their equipment's efficiency, identify areas for improvement and optimize their manufacturing process.

The three metrics of the OEE formula

The OEE formula is a calculation that provides an overall OEE score. To get it, you multiply three metrics. They are:

Availability: The percentage of time that the equipment is available for production. This metric is calculated by subtracting downtime from the total time available for production, then dividing that number by the total time available for production. Note that this metric doesn’t include scheduled downtime, non-production hours or other preplanned time.
Performance: The speed at which the equipment is producing goods. This metric is calculated by dividing the actual output by the maximum output the equipment can produce in the same time frame.
Quality: The quality of the output produced by the equipment. This metric is calculated by dividing the number of viable units produced by the total number of units produced.

Availability

Performance

Quality

Overall Equipment Efficiency

Manufacturers strive to hit the OEE industry standard

A perfect OEE score of 100 percent represents the ideal state in which equipment is running at maximum efficiency without any defects or downtime. However, a perfect score is not typically attainable. Instead, manufacturers use OEE benchmarks to gauge their equipment's efficiency.

According to the OEE Foundation, the OEE industry standard for manufacturing processes is 85 percent or higher.¹ This typically means that the equipment is producing high-quality products with minimal downtime at maximum speed. On the other hand, an OEE score of 60 percent or less¹ indicates significant room for improvement in the manufacturing process. An OEE score in this range can help manufacturers identify areas for improvement.

The Six Big Losses and how they affect OEE metrics

To improve OEE, manufacturers need to identify and minimize the Six Big Losses that can impact their equipment's efficiency and overall score.

Six Big Losses	Affected OEE metric	Examples	Visual Solutions
Equipment failure	Availability	Tooling failure Unplanned maintenance Equipment failure	Gauge labels Temp. indicating labels Oil level indicators Predictive maintenance targets Equipment identification Drive tensioning guides
Setup and adjustments	Availability	Setup/changeover Material shortage Operator shortage Major adjustments Warmup time	Minimum inventory labels Material pull indicators Job scheduling boards Equipment run-setting labels One point lessons
Idling and minor stops	Speed	Obstructed product flow Equipment jams Misfeeds Sensor blockage Delivery blockage Cleaning/checks	Work instruction visuals One point lessons One point labels Floor tape (finished goods storage areas)
Reduced speed	Speed	Rough running Under nameplate capacity Under design capacity Equipment wear Operator inefficiency	Lube points Drive tension guides Normal state visuals A4 boards Fishbone diagrams
Process defects	Quality	Scrap Rework In-process damage In-process expiration Incorrect assembly	Work instruction visuals One point lessons One point labels
Reduced yield	Quality	Scrap Rework In-process damage In-process expiration Incorrect assembly	Gauge labels Magnehelic labels Speed indicating labels

10 equipment care visuals that can help boost OEE

Equipment care visuals play a big part in addressing inefficiencies, gaps in maintenance and employee knowledge deficiency. Manufacturers can start to identify and mitigate the Six Big Losses with visual labels and markings.

Backdrop of a handyman bench with a wrench, hammer, tape measure, calculator, and two clip boards hanging.

Shadow boards

Prevent “tool walk-off” with shadow boards. Color-code by department or area.

A machine with a chain connecting two gears. The center of the chain is in line with a section of green marked behind it, indicating its optimal tightness.

Drive tension guides

Use color to indicate chain or belt tightening or replacement. Label with action steps.

Close-up of a pressure gauge with a 0-100 scale currently reading 17.

Gauge labels

Give any employee the ability to detect abnormal pressures or temperatures.

A blue shut-off valve with a label stating "valve normally open" and an arrow pointing up.

Normal/safe-state visuals

Use when putting equipment into a safe working condition or zero-energy state.

An up-close image of a manufacturing machine part with a sign displaying "vibration test point".

Predictive maintenance targets

Ensure vibration and ultrasound probes are positioned for maximum repeatability.

Replacement filter with a visible part number and storage location number.

Replacement part visuals

Clearly identify correct replacement parts to eliminate time wasted identifying and ordering.

Two red water pumps, each with a white label describing the model.

Equipment ID labels

Enable easier asset tracking, problem reporting and repair history visibility.

A worker using a properly labeled grease gun, that meets industry standards, to lube an area of the manufacturing line.

Lube point labels

Identify proper grease quantity and frequency, and color code matching lube points and grease guns.

Oil gauge indicator filled half way and connected to a spicket.

Oil level indicators

Identify low, normal and high oil levels with green-and-red-striped labels.

Warehouse shelf stocked with cardboard boxes utilizing barcode labels and maximum height/re-order point labels.

Max. level indicators

Reinforce stock limits, highlight overstock citations and avoid unnecessarily high inventory.

Get started with Brady

To get started with OEE, start with these four steps

Identify current OEE score and benchmark it against industry standards.
Determine the root causes of any inefficiencies or losses.
Implement strategies to address these inefficiencies and minimize losses.
Monitor progress by tracking OEE regularly and make adjustments as needed.

A leader in visual workplace solutions, Brady offers numerous products and services to help you minimize the Six Big Losses and raise or reinforce your OEE score.

A man in a workshop printing labels on a Brady benchtop printer.

S3700 Safety Sign and Label Printer with XY Cutter.

Print your own equipment care visuals

If you’re ready to improve your OEE score, equipment care visuals are a great first step. Bring printing in-house to save on printing and material costs as well as create labels specific to your unique needs and OEE goals. The Brady S3700 Safety Sign and Label Printer with XY Cutter can handle it all. With multicolor printing and a built-in shape cutter, you can create all the custom visuals you need, when you need them.

Shop S3700

More OEE Visual Printers

A leader in visual workplace solutions, Brady offers numerous products and services to help you minimize the Six Big Losses and raise or reinforce your OEE score. Select from handheld portable labelers for labeling on the go, tabletop printers for creating big and bold visuals and much more. Reach out to a Brady rep for help selecting the right printer for your needs.

Shop more printers