The OEE RFP Guide: 5 Non-Negotiable Requirements for High-Speed Manufacturers

What should be included in an OEE software RFP?

An OEE software RFP for high-speed manufacturing should include requirements for real-time machine connectivity (PLC/IoT), AI-powered visual root cause analysis, native integration with a field-ready CMMS, and predictive production scheduling based on actual machine health.

Most legacy RFPs are written for "Systems of Record" that only track the past.

Fabrico enables a System of Action, ensuring that every requirement in your list leads directly to a reduction in the "Six Big Losses."

Requirement 1: Hybrid Connectivity (The Visibility Trifecta)

Traditional RFPs ask for "PLC connectivity," but machine signals alone only tell you 33% of the story.

You must require a system that captures Machine Signals, Operator Context, and Visual Truth (Computer Vision).

High-speed lines in Food & Beverage or Plastics move too fast for sensors to explain why a bottle tipped or a feeder jammed.

Your RFP should mandate a module like Inefficiencies Zoom-In, which provides visual proof of micro-stops that traditional sensors miss.

Requirement 2: Native "Diagnostic-to-Cure" Integration

The most common mistake in OEE procurement is treating production data and maintenance execution as separate projects.

Your RFP must require that OEE performance drops natively trigger prioritized Work Orders in a Field-Ready CMMS.

If a machine slows down by 10%, the "Cure" should be automated.

Tom (the Technician) must receive a smart notification on his mobile device the second a threshold is breached, eliminating the "Decision Latency Tax."

Requirement 3: Visual Root Cause Analysis (Ending the Blame Game)

Traditional RCA (Root Cause Analysis) requirements often focus on "5 Whys" templates and manual logs.

In 2026, you should require Visual RCA that links OEE timestamps to high-definition video clips.

This ensures that Mike (the Tactical Manager) can "Zoom-In" to see the specific mechanical friction causing a performance loss.

Visual truth ends the "Blame Game" between production and maintenance shifts and ensures repairs are permanent.

Requirement 4: Predictive Availability Planning

A production schedule is only as accurate as the machines assigned to it.

Require an Interactive Planning Board that "sees" real-time machine health and the current maintenance backlog.

The system must use Predictive Availability to flag schedule conflicts before they happen.

If a critical asset is trending toward a failure, the board should suggest a proactive PM window during a planned changeover, protecting your JIT commitments.

Requirement 5: Group-First Governance (Multi-Site Standardization)

For the Strategic Leader (Paula), a single-line win is not enough; the RFP must address enterprise-wide scalability.

Require a Group-First Architecture that allows for the central management of Master PM Templates.

If Plant A discovers a way to optimize a changeover, that standard must be pushable to every other plant instantly.

This protects your Residual Asset Value and ensures your entire group is running on the same "Master Data of Inefficiencies."

Comparison Matrix: OEE RFP Response Tiers

The Strategic Verdict: Procurement for Profit

For Paula, the RFP is a financial blueprint for "Capacity Reclamation."

By moving from a "System of Record" to a System of Action, she ensures that every dollar spent on software results in more units shipped.

This data-driven foundation is also the prerequisite for the Fabrico Agent (AI Roadmap), which will eventually automate these optimizations.

Stop buying scoreboards. Start engineering your success with a System of Action RFP.