However, not everyone knows how to go about it. Where to start and what specifically to change? Do you need to invest in technological innovations or complicated, expensive solutions? Not necessarily. The first area to focus on may be making the most of the resources you have – looking for opportunities and savings based on what you already have. Linked to this is the concept of “management by facts.” Only first you need to know what those facts are. That is, to focus on acquiring reliable, up-to-date and complete production data.

Machine monitoring systems, which can be used to cover individual machines as well as entire lines or manual stations, can be helpful in collecting reliable, unadulterated data. Automatic collection of information directly from equipment usually allows for elimination of paper, which has a positive impact on ecology and costs, but most importantly minimizes the risk of errors that often occur when manually filling out forms or transcribing data into spreadsheets.

Machine monitoring systems provide knowledge of availability and productivity, and sometimes production quality. Many of them allow you to immediately calculate OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness), an indicator that is one of the most common, as well as the most effective, measures of efficient production. By measuring OEE, you can quickly catch any inefficiencies and get to their source. This allows you to take appropriate action immediately..  

In the area of performance improvement, performance systems also play a significant role. Their main purpose is to provide users with all levels of information necessary for them – reliable, up-to-date and contextualized. Such data is the basis for proper and efficient operation of any enterprise.

Monitoring the work of machines, calculating and analyzing the components of the OEE index, appropriate distribution of tasks and the data needed to perform them to employees at every level – these are activities that allow you to keep your hand on the pulse of production processes. They facilitate rapid response to emerging problems, help locate bottlenecks, improve productivity, increase quality. All of this translates into cost reductions and, as a result, also increases the competitiveness of the entire plant. 

Investing in efficiency improvements is an important step toward a company’s digital transformation. Focusing on this area usually brings visible benefits quickly, without the need for high costs. In our compendium, we have collected articles and webinar recordings that will provide a comprehensive understanding of efficiency improvement and the tools that can help. We hope that these materials will allow our readers not only to expand their knowledge, but, more importantly, to take the first step towards improving processes and efficiency in their factories.

We invite you to read them!