How Proactive is KitchenAid about Machine Maintenance?

Learn about KitchenAid’s approach to OEE in June’s cover story.

A lot. In fact, its efforts now begin months before a new machine is delivered. Such effort is driven by the company’s recent implementation of Overall Equipment Effectiveness as detailed in our June cover story.  

Three machine utilization metrics comprise OEE: availability, performance and quality. The new Chiron two-spindle machining centers that the company recently installed readily satisfy the quality and performance metrics needed to machine mixer castings at a high OEE. But for KitchenAid (and presumably other manufacturers that have integrated advanced machining equipment), availability is the trickiest OEE factor to boost and stabilize.

As you read the story, consider how your own machine maintenance efforts might be improved to minimize downtime due to unplanned problems.