Overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) analysis in Solar Panel Manufacturing

In today's competitive manufacturing landscape, the sustainability and profitability of enterprises hinge on optimizing production efficiency and reducing industrial waste. ENTER SOLAR GREEN ENERGY exemplifies this challenge, striving to improve its products by identifying and eliminating non-value-added processes. This thesis explores the application of Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) as a diagnostic tool for pinpointing inefficiencies and enhancing productivity within the company. Through a comprehensive study of OEE's theoretical foundations and practical implementation, this research analyzes the performance of ENTER SOLAR GREEN ENERGY's manufacturing processes. Key metrics, such as availability, performance, and quality are scrutinized to uncover sources of inefficiency. The study employs both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods, encompassing statistical analyses and interviews to gather insights. Findings reveal significant opportunities for improvement in equipment maintenance and process optimization. Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) emerges as a critical strategy for mitigating six forms of preventable waste, thereby enhancing overall equipment performance. The research also highlights challenges in data collection and loss categorization, emphasizing the need for tailored solutions to address industry-specific requirements. By treating OEE as a stochastic variable and employing approximate statistical techniques, the study provides a robust framework for analyzing production variability and identifying root causes of inefficiencies. This approach facilitates data-driven decision-making, leading to more effective and efficient manufacturing processes. The practical implications of this research extend to improving asset reliability, prioritizing improvement efforts, and monitoring equipment efficiency over time. The study underscores the importance of collaborative efforts across operations, maintenance, procurement, and system design to achieve sustainable improvements in manufacturing performance. In conclusion, this thesis demonstrates the value of OEE as a comprehensive metric for enhancing manufacturing efficiency and competitiveness. It offers actionable insights and methodologies for ENTER SOLAR GREEN ENERGY and similar enterprises to optimize their production processes, reduce costs, and meet market demands more effectively.