METHODOLOGY

Vendor Independence

The Institute for Machinery does not accept sponsorship, affiliate fees, or advertising revenue from machinery builders (OEMs), distributors, or tooling suppliers. Our operating metrics are designed to act as an objective counterbalance to vendor-supplied ROI spreadsheets.

Data Aggregation

Our baseline figures for preventative maintenance intervals, consumable costs, and hourly burden rates are aggregated from an anonymized dataset comprising over 400 manufacturing facilities across North America and Europe, actively updated on a trailing 24-month basis.

OEE Adjustments

Vendor models typically assume an Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) of 85% to 95%. Our calculators and tables default to a 60% utilization factor, which real-world telemetry shows is vastly more accurate for high-mix/low-volume (HMLV) job shop environments.