Description

Within a manufacturing process, there are six basic parameters that can be adjusted, which are: orders, labour, machinery, materials, organisation, and safety. Any variation or change to one or more of these parameters can cause an effect on the quality, cost, and output of the production process. It must be crucial to remember that these changes don’t have to be positive changes, they can be negative changes, thus it’s essential to consider, understand, and thoroughly discuss any change. 

Ultimately, the decision as to where and what adjustments are required will be influenced by whether the increased output is sustainable or if it’s just a temporary change. For instance, with any new investment in machinery, the potential payback will be a huge factor, on deciding whether or not the company requires to invest in it, or potentially look at other avenues. 

Other issues that may be considered when developing suggestions to solve an issue include, changes to machinery settings, increased individual training, or an adjustment to the materials being used, though the materials should always suit the product specification and quality. Moreover, let’s not forget, organisational parameters, which include production scheduling, payment systems, and workplace organisation. 

Overall equipment effectiveness (OEE), is a key performance indicator (KPI), to compare performance among similar or identical production plants; essentially, it’s a metric that portrays how efficiently a plant operates. This metric combines the measurement of plant availability, performance efficiency, quality, equipment, and process. 

Availability = operating time / planned production time

Performance = (ideal cycle time * total pieces) / operating time

Quality = good pieces / total pieces

OEE = availability * performance * quality                 OR 

(Good pieces * ideal cycle time) / planned production time

These formulas can be used to see how adjustments to parameters have an effect on overall equipment effectiveness. With each parameter, there should be a procedure to follow when one requires adjusting, thus it’s important to maintain a workflow, and don’t forget, document everything accurately and legibly, as errors in documentation may cause errors in production.  

Instructions:

• Please complete the course, review questions, and successfully complete the qualified assessment with a minimum of 100% accuracy within one year of course enrolment.
• To retake the course, please refresh your browser and the course will start again.

Instruction before the Final Exam:

• The following exam will test your knowledge of this course.
• You can take it as many times as you want.
• You must have a score of 100% to pass this exam.
• You are required to complete the qualified assessment within one year of the date of purchase or enrolment.
• You must pass this exam to receive continuing education credits.
• You would need to retake the course before attempting the qualified assessment again.
• To redo the course after passing, you would need to reset the course.
• You won’t be awarded additional CPE if you re-take the qualified assessment after passing once.
• Please fill in and submit the survey after passing final exam to get CPE and Certificate of Completion.