GB2372622A

GB2372622A - Overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) training game.

Info

Publication number: GB2372622A
Application number: GB0101376A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Tanfield
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-01-18
Filing date: 2001-01-18
Publication date: 2002-08-28
Anticipated expiration: 2021-01-18
Also published as: GB2372622B; GB0101376D0

Abstract

An electronic simulation of a machine to be used as part of a training exercise to teach the principles of Overall Equipment Effectiveness. The virtual machine will simulate the main control functions and operating characteristics of an actual machine. Users of the training game will learn to monitor and control machine performance and optimise Overall Equipment Effectiveness by developing the correct operating and maintenance procedures which may then be applied to actual machines in the workplace.

Description

Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) Training Game.

This invention relates to an electronic simulation of a machine which is used as a training tool to teach the theory of Overall Equipment Effectiveness to enable a manufacturing company to obtain optimum usage of its automated production equipment.

Many manufacturing companies use machines to automate part or all of their production facility so it is vital that the machinery is used correctly and efficiently in order to achieve maximum output with minimal costs. In order to achieve this, the employees need to be trained in Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE).

The object of this invention is to electronically simulate the operating characteristics of a typical machine so that the correct operating methods may be devised during a training session, allowing the participants to learn from their mistakes and see the benefits of the correct operating methods.

A full description of the functions of the OEE Game will now follow with reference to the accompanying photographs.

Figure 1 shows the front panel view of the OEE Game.

Figure 2 shows the top panel of the OEE Game.

The operating conditions of the machine are shown to the machine operator using the front panel displays (Figure 1). Bargraph indicators provide information regarding the power consumption (1), the speed of the machine (2) and the oil reservoir level (3). The machine can produce five different virtual products, each of which takes a different amount of time to manufacture. The product selection, A to E, is shown on display (4). The number of"good" products made is shown on numeric display (5) and the number of rejects is shown on display (6).

The top part of the machine contains the user controls (Figure 2). The machine is started up using the start buttons (7) which are pressed in sequence. The shutdown sequence of the machine is initiated using the stop button (8). The running speed of the machine may be adjusted using buttons (9) and (10). Pressing button (11) increases the oil level. Product selection is achieved using button (12) before the machine is started up. Button (13) is used to reset the product counters, (5) and (6) in Figure 1, before starting a new production run.

The OEE simulation also contains three simulated mechanical parts (14) and a simulated fuse (15) which may be removed from the body of the machine for simulated repair. The amount of wear and tear on each part is dependent on the oil level and the cumulative build up of wear over the lifetime of the part. Worn parts will also cause a reduction of the quality of the products made and will result in an increase in the number of reject products that are produced.

The operating condition of the parts is indicated by the four coloured lights on the top of each part (16). Green indicates that the part is operating correctly. As the machine runs, the parts experience simulated wear and tear, the severity of which is indicated by the yellow lights on each part. If the machine operator takes no remedial action, the part will eventually "wear out", indicated by the red lamp, causing the machine to stop.

The failed part must then be removed from the machine and a replacement part is fitted. The repair procedure is simulated by pressing button (17) which pauses the machine for a short period of time to simulate the time that would be taken to repair an actual machine. The same button may also be used while the machine is running to simulate preventative maintenance to prevent the parts from"wearing out". The failed parts automatically reset themselves after being removed from the machine for a few minutes so that they may be used again in the next training exercise.

A similar condition exists with the simulated fuse (15). This part only has two lamps on the top as it only has two modes of operation, working and blown. If the machine operator allows the power levels to rise too high, the fuse will fail and the machine will stop.

This will then cause a similar repair sequence to that of a failed part as described in the previous paragraphs. The power consumption of the machine is a function of its operating speed combined with the amount of wear on the parts, i. e. a machine with worn parts will consume more power than a machine with good parts.

At the end of each simulated production run the number of good and bad products produced are counted and the effectiveness of the machine is calculated. As the game progresses, the players will learn that a maintenance schedule needs to be implemented to obtain optimum use of the machine. Also a production schedule is required as time is wasted when stopping the machine to change over to a different product. These principles may then be applied in the real world.

Claims

Claims 1. An electronic simulation of a machine to be used as part of a training exercise to teach the principles of Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE).
2. An OEE training game as claimed in Claim 1 which may be mains powered or powered from an external low voltage source.
3. An OEE training game as claimed in Claims 1 and 2 which may provide a visual indication of the following simulated items: a) A digital display of the number of products made. b) A digital display of the number of reject products made. c) A visual indication of the type of product being made. d) A visual indication of the power consumption of the machine. e) A visual indication of the oil reservoir level in the machine.
4. An OEE training game as claimed in any preceding claim which may simulate the start up and shutdown procedures of an actual machine.
5. An OEE training game as claimed in any preceding claim which may provide adjustment of the running speed of the machine.
6. An OEE training game as claimed in any preceding claim which may provide means of simulating the topping up of the oil reservoir.
7. An OEE training game as claimed in any preceding claim which may provide means of selecting different products to be made by the machine.
8. An OEE training game as claimed in any preceding claim which may provide a means of resetting the product counters, as described in Claim 3, back to zero.
9. An OEE training game as claimed in any preceding claim which may provide a method of simulating repair or maintenance of the machine.
10. An OEE training game as claimed in any preceding claim which may simulate the mechanical parts of the machine.
11. An OEE training game as claimed in any preceding claim which may simulate the electrical parts of the machine.
12. An OEE training game as claimed in any preceding claim in which the simulated parts, as described in Claims 10 and 11, may be removed from the machine to simulate the replacement of a failed part.
13. An OEE training game as claimed in Claim 12 in which the simulated failed part will automatically reset itself after being removed from the machine for a short period of time.
14. An OEE training game as claimed in any preceding claim in which the simulated parts, as described in Claims 10-13, may display a visual indication of the operating condition of the part.
15. An OEE training game as substantially described herein with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying photographs.