// Vimachem

OEE Value Creation ROI Calculator

// Vimachem

OEE Value Creation ROI Calculator

Generate more profits and achieve your performance goals by improving overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).

ROI & OEE Calculation Variables: Maximizing Manufacturing Efficiency

// intro

OEE: Understanding Key Performance Metrics

OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) is "the gold standard" for measuring manufacturing productivity, which means that it identifies the percentage of manufacturing time that is productive.

A production operation’s OEE value is measured in percentages and is based on the Availability, Quality, and Performance metrics of the line. For example, if a manufacturing facility scores 100% OEE, it means it is manufacturing only Good Units, at their nominal speed, with no stops. This means 100% Quality (Good Units), 100% Performance (nominal speed), and 100% Availability (no Stops).

// Explaining the variables & default values

Detailed Breakdown Of OEE Calculator Variables

Nominal Speed per Minute

What is the nominal number of products produced per minute for a specific line? By default, this is set to 50 products/min.

Working Days per Week

How many days per week do you schedule your machines to work? By default, this is set to 5 working days per week.

Working Hours per Day

How many hours per day do you schedule your machines to work? By default, this is set to 16 hours per day (2 shifts).

Profit per Unit

What is the average profit per unit for your products? By default, this is set to 0,30 € per unit produced. You need to exclude the cost of production from your selling price.

Starting OEE

What is your current OEE? By default, this is set to 25%, which is a typical average for pharmaceutical manufacturers starting their OEE improvement journey.

Target OEE

What is the OEE you want to achieve by the end of the year? By default, this is set as 1% higher than your starting OEE. This will show how much impact can be achieved with a slight increase of 1%. At Vimachem, we have found that, on average, the minimum improvement that new clients can expect in a year is a 5% increase.

How To Interpret Results From The OEE ROI Calculator

Depending on the variables you use to calculate the value created in a Year, you get different outputs.

Here is a quick example to showcase the real values behind the numbers:

One packaging line in a contract manufacturing organization (CMO) produces on average 50 cartons per minute, which is equal to 50 cartons x 60 minutes = 3.000 cartons/hour. Let us assume that each secondary packaging line operates 5 days per week and for 16 hours per day (2 working shifts). This would mean that each packaging line operates 5 days x 16 hours = 80 hours/week and assuming 52 working weeks per year, 4.160 hours/year.

Now, to calculate the output produced each year, we will multiply the machine runtime in hours with the units produced per hour times the overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) of the packaging line:

Output Produced per Year = Machine Runtime in Hours x Units Produced per Hour x Current OEE

Assuming the current OEE of the line is 25%, the packaged cartons produced in a year would be 4.160 x 3.000 x 25% = 3.120.000 cartons/year.

In the case of a 4% growth in OEE (1% increase), the OEE will be 26%), and then the produced output in a year would be 4.160 x 3.000 x 26% = 3.244.800 cartons/year.

Gained Output = Increased Output – Initial Output

3.244.800 – 3.120.000 = 124.800 cartons.

So, a 4% growth in OEE (1% increase) would result in 124.800 additional cartons per packaging line and hence a total of 3.244.800 cartons per line x 7 lines = 22.713.600 total cartons, or 873.600 additional cartons.

Total Additional Profit = Gained Output x Profit per unit

Assuming an estimated 0.30€ profit per carton, a 4% growth in OEE would result in 124.800 cartons x 0.3 profit per carton = 37.440,00€ in incremental profitability.

Projected Growth From OEE Software Implementation

With the help of OEE software, the expected growth of a pharma manufacturing firm in the course of a year could be up to 40% for each line.

This means with a starting OEE of 25%, you can achieve a 35% OEE in only one year. Hence, a line that produces 1.000 products with a 40% growth in OEE would achieve production of 1.400 products using the same resources as before.

So, for a manufacturer that has 10 lines, it means that they can produce the same output using 7 lines. It is important to understand that the strive for OEE optimization will be a driver for culture change across the whole site with learnings that can bring significant improvements in performance on other lines.
Additionally, manufacturers can benefit from implementing an OEE system when they are contractually required to meet specific production rates to meet their clients’ orders. OEE can help quickly point out if their work cell(s) are not meeting acceptable OEE thresholds.

The investment in OEE software will be repaid through cost savings achieved in the first month.

Additional Benefits Of Integrating OEE Software In Manufacturing

OEE metrics need to be calculated in real-time and displayed on the factory floor, among other production data, to help decision-making and optimize pharmaceutical manufacturing operations. This will create a sense of transparency and ownership throughout your site. Manufacturing Analytics & OEE solutions are critical in identifying the actual speed of a line and other site data in real-time by utilizing IIoT-based edge devices. Monitoring and assessing real-time machine data will give direction in order to drive operational efficiencies, better performance, sustainable improvements, and generate financial gains.

The information provided by an IIoT-based Manufacturing Analytics & OEE application can help to:

//Tips to Optimize your OEE post implementation

Post-OEE Calculation Actions: Steps to Enhance Manufacturing Efficiency

After calculating your OEE, you should:

1. Analyze the results: Identify areas of inefficiency, such as downtime, slow cycles, or defects.
2. Prioritize improvements: Focus on the factors with the most significant impact on OEE.
3. Implement changes: Make process adjustments, provide training, or upgrade equipment.
4. Monitor continuously: Regularly track OEE to assess the effectiveness of changes.
5. Engage teams: Ensure that all staff understand OEE and are involved in improvement efforts.

Optimal Frequency for Recalculating OEE in your Production Environment

You should calculate OEE in real-time to ensure immediate action for production efficiency. The frequency depends on your production cycle.

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Get started with real-time manufacturing analytics today.

Changeover Instructions & Analytics

Changeover Instructions & Analytics

From downtime drag to agile, data-driven changeovers.
Digitize and streamline changeovers with guided instructions and real-time feedback. Cut changeover times and reduce variability while capturing execution data for continuous improvement.

A Modular Platform. A Unified Ecosystem.

Manufacturing Analytics & OEE

From guesswork to real-time performance insights.
Track line performance, equipment efficiency, and downtime trends. Real-time dashboards give operations, maintenance, and Continuous Improvement teams the insights they need to improve continuously.

Manual Aggregation Module (ΜΑΜ)

Manual Aggregation Module // ΜΑΜ

From disconnected rework to streamlined, compliant aggregation.
Easily aggregate serialized units on manual or offline lines. Support sampling, returns, and rework while maintaining full compliance, traceability, and seamless integration with existing systems.

Smart Warehouse Traceability (SWT)

Smart Warehouse Traceability // SWT

From siloed systems to full material traceability.
Track every material, lot, and movement from warehouse to batch. Android-compatible, ERP-integrated, and scalable, so you’re always audit-ready and inventory-aligned.

Serialization Site Manager

Serialization Site Manager // SSM

From regulatory complexity to centralized serialization control.
Manage global serialization and aggregation across hundreds of lines. Integrates with any vendor, supports global standards, and provides real-time oversight at site and enterprise level.

Electronic Logbooks (eLog)

Electronic Logbooks // eLog

From paper logs to intelligent, mobile-ready records.
Digitize equipment and process logs to ensure compliance and audit-readiness. Configurable templates, mobile data entry, and real-time access reduce manual effort and boost data integrity.

Digital Work Instructions

Operator Training

From tribal knowledge to consistent execution across shifts.
Deliver smart, digital SOPs to frontline teams. Improve adherence, minimize training time, and standardize operations with traceable, real-time guidance.

Weigh & Dispense (W&D)

Weigh & Dispense // W&D

From inconsistent weighing to verified-first-time accuracy.
Digitally guide operators through material weighing and dispensing. Improve accuracy, ensure traceability, and connect seamlessly with inventory and batch records.

Electronic Batch Records (eBR)

Electronic Batch Records // eBR

From error-prone paperwork to accelerated, compliant batch release.
Automate batch execution and review with built-in compliance. Reduce errors, eliminate manual logging, and shorten release cycles – so quality teams can focus on quality, not backlogs.

Bulk Production Analytics (BPA)

Bulk Production Analytics // BPA

From fragmented visibility to upstream process control.
Gain real-time insight into blending, granulation, and other bulk operations. Identify variability, reduce waste, and maintain consistent process quality.