Do we need an OEE system, a SCADA system, or both? Where should a small plant start?

[SignalFlow]

We are a mid-sized plastics manufacturer with 12 injection molding machines and some utilities (chillers, compressors). Today we have no central system: production numbers are written on paper, and maintenance walks around to check the utilities.
Management has a limited budget this year and asked me to propose "a digital system". Reading your website, I see Proveris OEE and Omnivex SCADA. I understand they're different products, but I'm not sure which problem each one solves. Which one would you start with in a plant like ours?

[admin]

Thanks for the clear description. The short version: they answer different questions.
Proveris OEE answers "How well are we producing?"
It tracks each machine's running and stopped time, production quantities and wastage, and calculates OEE (Availability, Performance, Quality) per machine, shift and work order. Operators classify downtimes on a kiosk, and managers get reports and dashboards showing where time is lost. It's aimed at production and management.
Omnivex SCADA answers "What is the state of the process right now, and can I act on it?"
It reads values from PLCs and devices, shows them on process screens, handles alarms (with email/SMS), and records history. It's aimed at operations, utilities and maintenance.
For your plant
With paper-based production records on 12 molding machines, the biggest unknown is usually *where the production time goes*. That points to starting with OEE: it gives management numbers they can act on, and the downtime causes it collects guide the next investments.
Utilities monitoring (chillers, compressors) is a typical SCADA scope. It can come as a second phase, especially if a chiller failure has stopped production before.
Before deciding
1. Check what signals the machines can provide (running signal, cycle counter) and how: most of our customers connect via Modbus TCP or Modbus RTU.
2. Pick two or three pilot machines to start with.
3. Agree on who will classify downtimes; OEE without downtime causes is half the value.
Useful reading:
- https://greensoft.ai/blog/what-is-oe...r-performance/
- https://greensoft.ai/blog/what-is-a-...al-automation/
For a discussion based on your machines, contact us at https://greensoft.ai/get-in-touch/