Arc-on time — the percentage of available time the welding arc is actually burning — is the most direct measure of productive utilization in welding. A robotic cell rated for 80% arc time achieving only 55% is leaving 25 percentage points of capacity unused.
Distinguishing between these requires OEE monitoring that logs arc status and interruption reasons — not just overall production counts.
Torch maintenance should be based on arc hours, not calendar time. A high-volume automotive cell accumulates arc hours 10x faster than a job shop on the same calendar — making calendar-based PM inappropriate for both.
Integrating OEE arc hour tracking with CMMS PM scheduling creates automatic torch maintenance work orders when a torch reaches its arc hour maintenance interval, eliminating manual tracking.
Wire feed interruption events captured in OEE data trigger wire feeder inspection work orders before feed problems cause arc quality issues — connecting quality outcomes directly to maintenance action.
For automotive Tier 1 welding suppliers under IATF 16949, integrated OEE and maintenance documentation provides the TPM evidence that automotive auditors require. Fabrico provides arc-hour-based PM triggering and welding power source connectivity for high-volume welding environments.
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