Boosting Manufacturing Efficiency: How OEE and MRP Integration Delivers Real-Time Insights
OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) and MRP (Material Requirements Planning)
In today’s competitive manufacturing environment, efficiency is everything. Companies need to balance production planning, resource allocation, and performance monitoring—without missing a beat. This is where two powerful metrics and systems come into play: OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) and MRP (Material Requirements Planning).
Individually, each offers tremendous value. But together? They can completely transform how manufacturers make decisions and improve productivity.
What is OEE?
OEE is a key performance indicator that measures how effectively a manufacturing operation is utilized. It combines three critical metrics:
- Availability – How often equipment is running vs. planned production time.
- Performance – How fast machines run compared to their maximum speed.
- Quality – How many good parts are produced without rework or scrap.
A high OEE score means you’re making the most of your production assets. But OEE alone doesn’t give you the whole picture.
What is MRP?
MRP systems are used to plan material purchases, production schedules, and inventory control. A modern MRP tool like Skala automates key functions such as:
- Inventory and BOM (Bill of Materials) management
- Order tracking
- Production planning
- Demand forecasting
MRP is essential for ensuring materials and resources are available when needed—but it’s often disconnected from real-time shop floor data.
Why Integrate OEE with MRP?
When you combine real-time OEE data with your MRP system, you unlock powerful operational visibility. Here’s what this integration delivers:
1. Smarter Scheduling
Downtime and performance issues from OEE metrics can directly inform your MRP’s production schedule, reducing bottlenecks and delays.
2. Accurate Lead Times
By factoring in actual machine performance, your lead time calculations become far more precise—especially important in make-to-order manufacturing.
3. Proactive Maintenance Planning
OEE insights help flag underperforming equipment, which you can integrate with MRP-driven maintenance or spare parts planning.
4. Reduced Waste and Cost
You can spot quality losses in real time and adjust materials or production runs immediately, minimizing scrap and inventory loss.
5. Holistic Operational Insights
With both systems connected, management gains a single source of truth—combining floor-level performance with strategic planning.
How Skala Helps
Skala bridges the gap between planning and execution. By integrating OEE tracking into your MRP system, you gain full visibility from the shop floor to your supply chain. With mobile-friendly interfaces and customizable dashboards, Skala helps manufacturers track, analyze, and act—without relying on outdated spreadsheets or guesswork.
