Industrial Automation and Motion Control Blog | The Knotts Company

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ACHIEVE OVERALL EQUIPMENT EFFECTIVENESS (OEE) USING HYGIENIC CONVEYORS

 Efficiency in manufacturing is heavily influenced by the use of equipment. If equipment isn’t running at peak performance, then it can’t yield a large enough output to cover the initial investment. Because equipment generally interacts with both products, laborers, and conveyors that feed equipment there are multiple factors to account for when determining the effectiveness of equipment.

So how do you measure the productivity of your manufacturing equipment? How do you gain insight to improve your processes? The answer is Overall Equipment Effectiveness, or OEE.

AVAILABILITY X PERFORMANCE X QUALITY = OEE

OEE is a standard for measuring productivity. Essentially, it identifies the percentage of manufacturing time that is actually productive. In mathematical terms, OEE = Availability x Performance x Quality. To receive a perfect score, a machine must manufacture 100% Availability (no stop time), 100% Performance (as fast as possible), and 100% Quality (only saleable products). Though a simple formula, OEE is a powerful tool that helps companies define, visualize, and ultimately eliminate equipment losses and waste. By implementing a well-designed and effective manufacturing structure, companies are able to achieve and maintain a competitive edge.

Check out our latest infographic below to learn how hygienically designed precision conveyors can help you and your company maximize your OEE.

In the Food Handling and Processing Industry, precision hygienic conveyors are essential because they maximize OEE while simultaneously delivering a more sanitary platform. Precision hygienic conveyors are low maintenance but also versatile, capable of accommodating a variety of tasks and generating a high OEE.

Availability Through Production

Conveyors can be fit with accessories and solutions to optimize run time (Availability) such as: spreaders and spacing techniques that strategically space items in preparation to maximize the next process, belt scrapers that provide continuous section cleaning, clean in place stationary washers, merging and diverting devices for precise movement of product, depositing retracts that strategically space products and singulating or chicaning solutions to align product for faster production or packaging. 

When researching any sanitary conveyor system, find out the answers to these crucial questions:

• Are there built-in features that will cut down cleaning time?
• Are these features removable or permanent?
• How easy is it to disassemble for cleaning?
• How many people/tools are necessary to sanitize the equipment?
• Will the design simplify the cleaning process?
• Will the product fulfill sanitary requirements?
• Is the product approved by the required health agencies?

Performance Through Speed

Precise hygienic conveyors can be sanitized in just a few minutes (Performance), increasing production capabilities. Additionally, these conveyors enable one person, without any tools, to suspend and release the belt in six seconds and disassemble the entire conveyor in less than three minutes. While OEE only examines a machine’s effectiveness, the benefit of only needing one worker for a sanitation job increases the overall efficiency. For example, if a system runs 50% effectively with one operator but 65% effectively with two operators, the effectiveness goes up 30%. However, the efficiency drops down to 50% based on labor. It’s important to take the measurements of both efficiency and effectiveness into consideration when choosing a machine.

Quality Through Successful Output

The goal of all sanitary conveyors is to eliminate any chance of contamination, therefore generating more saleable products (Quality) and increasing revenue. Dorner’s AquaPruf and AquaPruf Ultimate systems introduced Tip-Up Tails and Belt Lifters to the food industry, mechanisms that enable sanitation workers to have fast access to the conveyor frame with no tools required. Being able to reach every part of the machine with water, soap, and other cleaning agents eliminates bacteria growth, food and water accumulation, and chance of contamination. These hygienic designs are built to withstand high pressure washings and are chemically resistant, which means they can be easily sanitized and used for a variety of products ranging from dairy to seafood to confectionary items. With a conveyor that’s capable of being managed by a single worker and properly sanitized in a matter of minutes, the risk of contamination decreases and the volume of successful units increases.

All of these factors contribute to your machine’s Overall Equipment Effectiveness. OEE is the best metric to analyze and improve the productivity of your manufacturing equipment. Understand how to use it and apply it to your conveyor systems and processes. All three components of OEE— Availability, Performance and Quality — should be optimized for a sustainable design.

Interested in a Dorner Conveyor?