Usually, the first step is to measure the OEE ratio, and to do this, it is necessary to measure its 3 components:

AVAILABILITY:

To calculate this component, edinn needs a real-time counter of the total results produced by the process. For example: a counter of total pieces produced, updated in real time, each time a piece is produced. Usually it is recommended to use the same counter which is already being used for the daily counting of the process, and read this counter with the OPC Server.

With this counter, the edinn platform will know if the process is working or stopped and the speed of it, but it will not know why it stopped. For edinn to know why the process stopped, it will need signals, available through the OPC standard, which activate when a certain type of stop occurs. If you do not have these signals, which is something very frequent, then you will need a user to justify the stops manually from the terminal.

SPEED:

This component is calculated automatically based on the production counter on the edinn platform.

QUALITY:

To calculate this component, real-time counters will be needed for discarded or reworked parts of the process.

This means to set up sensors to count, in real-time, discarded production in those points where production can be discarded because of quality problems. For example: where production is derived to a conveyor belt, or to a basket, when it is not meeting a certain quality requirement. Multiple discard counters, of a general type, or one for each type of discard can be provided, according to the different quality measurements: incorrect weight, detection of unknown elements by X-rays, etc.

There is another way option the edinn platform to calculate the defective production, and it is by difference of 2 counters: one located at the entrance of the process and the other at the end of it. The edinn platform will calculate the discarded production by the difference between the first and the second counter. This option will not allow edinn to calculate the discarded production as frequently as with having real-time counters of discarded production.

Optionally, to have additional functionalities of the edinn platform (Predictive Maintenance, Quality SPC, etc.), more counters and signals can be provided to the system, for example:

    • Electrical signals with production values (pressure, temperature, etc.) that you need to monitor continuously.
    • Output signals to activate beacons or sirens.
    • Energy or resources consumption counters: electricity, water, etc.

How a counter must be?

    • Count always forward.
    • Not count empty cycles: edinn should not receive production counts which do not correspond with real produced results.
    • Count all the results produced by the process, and not only the good ones.
    • Not be resetted or, if it does, it should reset only at a fixed account: in addition, in case it is resetted, this count should be large enough so that the edinn platform can be a while (for example, 10 minutes) without reading the counter and that it has not been resetted 2 times in that period, which could cause a data loss.
    • Recommended to be accessible through the OPC standard: if you do not have this counter, you can connect the signal that serves to have this counter to an edinn eBOX (which already includes this counter internally) or one of your PLCs, and build this counter with the following characteristics (please, request if you need OPC UA).

NOTE: for more information, please visit: http://opcfoundation.org/

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