Analysis of potential factors affecting execution of overall equipment effectiveness in Indian sugar mills

Abstract

Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) is the foundation for the growth of the process industries as it ensures maintenance, performance and productivity updation. Through its usefulness to integrate with miscellaneous performance-enhancing strategies such as Total Productivity Maintenance (TPM), 5S, lean manufacturing (LM), total quality management (TQM) six sigma etcetera, OEE has now become a vital tool for necessary implementation. This study has analyzed the factors and sub-factors associated with OEE in the sugar industries of India. The study reveals the implication of general input/output, direct/indirect and associated indicating factors through a structured questionnaire. These factors accumulate information such as utilization of raw materials and the production environment, processing systems, labor effectiveness and circumstances under which these organizations work. The structured questionnaire was formulated after the discussions and suggestions of consultants, officials of the sugar industry, senior executives, whereas some questions were developed directly from the available literature. This study utilizes a survey-based research approach with a sample size of 104 process industries.The study supports the empirical research to get the benefits of this performance-enhancing approach. The response was recorded by the prominent 104 sugar mill industries of the country. 36 sugar industries were covered by multiple visits in person and 68 industries through official emails and prepaid envelopes.