I think this is probably my last post on the topic for SPC, at least for awhile. I really didn’t plan on having this one, but in putting together my first two posts, a several people asked me a lot about what the SPC really look like and what you really need to implement SPC. And, since I mentioned the concepts of real-time SPC and historical SPC in my previou...
From my last post on this subject, you should probably think that statistical process control (SPC) is pretty cool, and pretty valuable, as long as you don’t think too much about all the math. (Actually, the math is pretty cool as well.) But, SPC is not for everybody and it not the cure all for everything that ails you or your manufacturing process. So, I’d like to talk about ways to know whether or not you’re really ready for SPC. 
In this last installment on this topic I said that the main purpose of automation is no longer to eliminate labor. That may have been the purpose some decades ago, but it is no longer the purpose of automation.
I spent some time explaining that fundamentally that was the case because if some type of machine or automated equipment could be used to replace manual labor, it would have already been installed a long time ago.
So...
Back in the ‘60’s and ‘70’s the main purpose of automation was to eliminate labor. Actually, that’s pretty much been the main purpose of automation since the first machine of any kind was rolled onto a factory floor hundreds of years ago.
Eliminating or reducing labor is the purpose behind just about any tool or machine from the invention of the wheel right down to the invention of this laptop computer I’m using to write this blog.
But, you may not realize this, that is all very much in the process of changing and, in many cases, has already changed, and changed dramatically.
I’m not joking. The main purpose of automation used to be to ...
In my last discussion on OEE I mentioned that when I’m asked the question “where should I get started with improvements on the shop floor?” I usually answer that OEE is the best place to start.
OEE is a tool that helps manufacturing companies improve their bottom line by reducing costs, increasing quality, and increasing productivity. OEE and Continuous Improvement are like two peas in a pod. OEE is a tool that supports the Continuous Improvement initiative!
The Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) metric is a function of the complete manufacturing system, process line, or individual piece of equipment.
The components of OEE are:
