In many areas of the U.S., businesses are reopening and companies are finding ways to adjust to new operational norms in this second phase of COVID-19. For food and beverage companies, there are many complexities to consider. While many things within manufacturing companies are changing, priorities such as safety and quality remain as important as ever. 

To balance these priorities while adjusting to the evolving expectations of customers and employees, many companies are embracing remote operations. Although there are aspects of manufacturing which can’t be conducted offsite, with the right technology, a significant portion of business can be taken out of the facility. With this approach, companies can minimize the number of people entering and exiting the plant to control risks, keep employees satisfied, and respond to customer demands through new, automated solutions.

Modern manufacturers are facing a unique dilemma. Although there’s a wealth of data flowing throughout their facilities, the insights needed to make strategic decisions are often obscured, buried by the day-to-day processes needed to simply keep operations running smoothly. While each machine, shift, and line has information waiting to be leveraged, the challenges lie in tapping into this data and analyzing it on a consistent basis. Production tracking software addresses these challenges.

In challenging times, every little bit of continuous improvement adds to the bottom line. In 2020, we're seeing more and more F&B companies doubling down on data and leveraging SPC and OEE to boost margins and profits.

Across all food and beverage manufacturing environments, there’s a push for greater efficiency and reduced downtime, both of which are essential to maintaining and increasing profits. While most manufacturers have a general idea of how to drive production improvements, drilling down and understanding the true barriers to efficiency isn’t always clear. In fact, there’s often little visibility into the root causes of production disruptions, whether they stem from drawn-out changeover processes, faulty equipment, or other hidden bottlenecks. For this reason, many manufacturers have turned to OEE data collection software to increase productivity and improve yields.

There’s no single, definitive OEE software price—perform a quick web search, and you’ll see prices ranging all across the board. Some cloud-based OEE solutions feature a monthly license fee, which may vary based on factors such as the size of the facility or how many machines the company needs to monitor. On the other hand, some vendors price using flat fees. As with any type of technology, you’ll likely find that you get what you pay for: solutions that lie on the low end of the cost spectrum will offer fewer features and user-friendly capabilities compared to those that fall towards the middle or on the higher side. Some solutions will run only on certain devices, and others, like SafetyChain, are device-agnostic and integrate with just about any other software or hardware. Of course, it’s critical to consider your company’s needs, expectations, and budget to make an informed decision.

OEE Software Helps Manufacturers Become More Profitable by Measuring Availability, Performance, and quality

OEE is an abbreviation for Overall Equipment Effectiveness and is an essential metric for manufacturing facilities. When measured consistently and correctly, it can boost productivity and enhance quality to accelerate overall operations and improve bottom-line results. Yet, despite its remarkable potential, OEE remains under-leveraged in manufacturing – largely because most facilities lack the tools and resources to measure it effectively. Fortunately, OEE software solves that problem.