Availability
How much of the planned production time the equipment is actually available and running, rather than stopped by downtime.
SLW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT • PILOT SYSTEM
Production data you can actually use.
SLW Engineering is developing a simple retrofit production monitoring and OEE system intended to make live line performance clearer for operators, engineers and managers — without turning the monitoring unit into another machine-control system.
Retrofit conceptLive productionDowntime visibilityOEE dashboards
In development • Pilot system
WHY SLW IS DEVELOPING IT
Make production losses visible while there is still time to act.
End-of-shift figures tell you what happened. Live monitoring can help show what is happening now. The SLW concept is being developed to capture straightforward production information and present it in a way that is useful on the line and at management level.
The line-side unit is intended as a monitoring add-on rather than a replacement for the machine controls. Product count data can feed a local display and a larger dashboard, while the wider system is being developed around downtime, operator context, batch timing, OEE and historical reporting.
The current system is still in development and trial stages. Features shown on this website describe the design direction and may evolve as pilot installations and real production feedback shape the final product.
WHAT OEE MEANS
Availability × Performance × Quality.
OEE is useful because it separates different types of production loss instead of treating every missed unit as the same problem.
Performance
How the real production rate compares with the expected or ideal production rate while the equipment is running.
Quality
How much of the output is good production compared with the total produced, accounting for reject or quality loss.
OEE
Combines Availability, Performance and Quality into one measure, while the individual factors still show where the loss is coming from.
Downtime reasons
The development roadmap includes clearer reason capture so recurring stoppages can be separated from one-off events.
Management visibility
The architecture is being developed with individual line dashboards and a future multi-line overview in mind.
RETROFIT APPROACH
Monitor the line without pretending to control it.
The monitoring concept is deliberately separated from the machine’s normal stop/start and safety controls. The purpose is visibility: count product, understand time loss and present useful information.
1. Count productionA suitable sensor or signal is used to identify completed product passing the monitoring point.
2. Show line-side informationA compact local display gives operators immediate production and batch information.
3. Present a larger dashboardA tablet, TV or management display can show production status and OEE information more clearly.
4. Store useful historyThe development direction includes recording batch summaries, downtime events and trends for later review.
5. Scale across linesThe system is being designed so multiple installed units can ultimately feed a wider management view.
PILOT SYSTEM FAQ
What the system is — and what it is not.
Is the SLW production monitoring system finished?
No. It is an active development and pilot project. The core concept and dashboard direction are established, but the final specification can change as testing continues.
Does it replace the machine PLC or safety controls?
No. The concept is a separate monitoring layer. It is not intended to replace the machine’s normal control system, stop/start functions or safety circuits.
Can it show OEE?
OEE visibility is part of the development scope, using Availability, Performance and Quality alongside the underlying production and downtime information.
Can a site discuss a trial or pilot?
Yes. Manufacturing sites interested in the concept can contact SLW to discuss the line, what information they want to monitor and whether a pilot would be suitable.
SLW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
Interested in a production monitoring pilot?
Describe the line, process and the production information you want to see more clearly.