Increasing your OEE with an Andon system

Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)

Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) is a core manufacturing metric that shows how efficiently a machine, work cell, or production line operates. It is based on three components: availability, performance, and quality.

Andon System 

An Andon system is a real-time visual management and escalation tool that shows machine status, production issues, and support needs. It helps operators, maintenance, supervisors, and quality teams to spot problems quickly, respond faster, reduce downtime, and keep minor issues from becoming major losses.

By implementing an Andon system, the OEE can be improved because problems are signaled immediately, reducing response time and shortening unplanned downtime (Availability). Minor stops, slow cycles, and process interruptions become more visible and easier to correct before they affect throughput (Performance). Operators can quickly signal defects or abnormal conditions, helping contain issues at the source instead of allowing bad product to continue downstream (Quality).

Using a smart flexible stack light as part of an Andon system

A smart flexible stack light offers more versatility than a traditional fixed-color stack light. IO-Link models are easy to integrate and support multiple operating modes, including segment mode with customizable colors and segment counts. This allows a single device to display machine status, escalation levels, or custom visual patterns without mechanical changes. Depending on the model, users can configure a different number of independent segments in stack light mode or control each individual LED rings in flexible mode, with adjustable colors, brightness, blinking, and flashing. As a result, the same light can adapt to changing machine conditions, product variations, or line layouts while reducing inventory and supporting plant-wide standardization.

In summary, an Andon system improves responsiveness and productivity by providing immediate visibility, faster escalation, and flexible signaling. When combined with adaptable signaling devices, it supports lean operations, strengthens OEE, and makes production status easier to understand at a glance.