In the very competitive manufacturing world, operating efficiently is invaluable. This is where OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) comes into play. OEE Tools help manufacturers measure how well their equipment is being used and is key in identifying bottlenecks, reducing downtime, and increasing productivity.
Whether you run a small-scale manufacturing facility or a global enterprise, choosing the right OEE software can have a dramatic impact on your operation. In this blog, We will review the best OEE tools that factory workers and managers will trust in 2025, in their own classes based on their actual performance and special qualities.
What Is OEE and Why Is It Important?
OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) is a defined metric to evaluate how effectively manufacturing equipment is being utilized. OEE is calculated by looking at three important factors:
- Availability – measures losses associated with downtime.
- Performance – assessed losses associated with speed to the maximum design output.
- Quality – measures losses associated with the levels of quality defects.
By monitoring these metrics, manufacturers can observe equipment performance in real-time, to create opportunities to improve process efficiency, eliminate waste, and improve quality related metrics.
5 Top-Rated OEE Tools Manufacturers Trust Most
1. Autobits Labs – Top OEE Tool Manufacturer
Autobits Labs is known as one of the leading OEE manufacturers with a unique combination of smart manufacturing tools, automation, and advanced analytics. This platform is ideal for manufacturers looking to measure operational visibility and eliminate waste.
Key Features:
- Real-Time Equipment Monitoring: Live dashboards give users actionable insights into performance, downtime, and quality in real time.
- Seamless Integration: Easily integrates with PLCs, SCADA, ERP systems, and IoT devices, making it suitable for both legacy and modern environments.
- Custom Alerts & Predictive Maintenance: AI-powered alerts notify plant managers of irregularities, helping prevent breakdowns before they occur.
- Scalable Architecture: Designed to adapt across industries—whether discrete or process manufacturing—with multi-location support.
Why Manufacturers Trust It:
Autobits Labs helps companies move beyond basic OEE tracking. With customizable dashboards, automation-first modules, and advanced analytics, manufacturers can optimize workflows, reduce downtime, and unlock hidden productivity potential.
2. Epicor Advanced MES – Best Overall
Epicor Advanced MES provides real-time production monitoring by capturing data automatically from machines and operators present on the shop floor. By automating this process, Epicor Advanced MES diminishes manual data entry errors and enables immediate insights into production performance.
Key Features:
- Real-Time Production Scheduling: Updates jobs in real time on progress and machine performance, as well as being able to make real time improvements to efficiencies.
- Process Monitoring & Analytics: Provides the visibility into process parameters, which can enable fast decision making to help with quality improvements and waste reductions.
- Quality Management: Includes Statistical Process Control (SPC) & Statistical Quality Control (SQC) to monitor product quality standards.
- Maintenance Management: Ultimately drives more predictive capabilities by creating automatic tasks that allow for maintenance to be scheduled based on runtime, cycles, or time and reduce surprise downtime.
Why Manufacturers Believe In It:
Epicor Advanced MES provides operational transparency and efficiency by enabling real-time data into manufacturing operations that allows manufacturers the opportunity to proactively solve problems, drive down waste, and improve overall equipment effectiveness.
3. Aptean Process Manufacturing OEE – Best for Process Manufacturing
Aptean Process Manufacturing OEE is designed for industries such as food and beverage, chemicals, and consumer packaged goods focused on real-time performance management and continuous improvement.
Key features include:
- Real-time performance management integrates real-time metrics with user-friendly technology for identifying losses in manufacturing and managing product costing.
- Flexible deployment offers both on-premise and cloud hosting to allow manufacturers to best match their operational approach.
- Paperless Quality Management helps ensure process compliance and reduces manual errors by automating quality checks and documentation.
- Continuous improvement tools support methodologies such as Kaizen and Six Sigma by providing tools for ongoing operational improvement.
Why manufacturers trust it:
Aptean’s solution gives operators real-time analytics and creates a culture of accountability resulting in immediate improvements to operations and sustained productivity improvements.
4. HYDRA X – Best for Large Manufacturers
HYDRA X aims to mitigate the complexities associated with manufacturer operations at scale, while providing the ability to add a holistic suite of capabilities that integrate into existing ERP systems.
Key Highlights:
- Real-Time Data Collection: Collects data from shop floors, people, and machinery for a holistic view of operations.
- Shop Floor Scheduling and Material Logistics: Provides enhanced opportunities for planning and coordinating schedules and product flow.
- Easy to Use Interface: Makes management of complex processes easy for a range of user levels.
Why Manufacturers Trust It:
HYDRA X’s to integrate, along with a suite of wholistic capabilities creates an ideal tool for manufacturers seeking to enhance operations and efficiency across different sites and scopes of manufacturing. Read more
5. Evocon – Best for High-Volume Manufacturing
Evocon is specifically developed for markets with high production volumes and supplies tools to monitor and manage production processes effectively.
Key Features:
- Automated Checklists: Utilized based on production events to verify standards operating procedures and policies maintained.
- IIoT Device Integration: Captures machine data for monitoring production performance in real time.
- Custom Tasks: Providing customizable inspections and log of parameters specific to their operations needs.
Why Manufacturers Trust It:
Evocon is focused on automation and real time data collection, helps high-volume manufacturing avoid scrap production, conserve efficiency, and maintain strict quality control.
6. SafetyCulture (iAuditor) – Best for SMEs
SafetyCulture (iAuditor) is an uncomplicated and affordable choice for small to medium-sized businesses looking to improve OEE.
Key Features:
- Mobile App Enabled: Available on both iOS and Android devices, allowing inspections and audits to be completed on the go.
- Live Data Available: Provides the operations manager with immediate-day data to decide on the course of action.
- Free Version Available: Your small team can make improvements to the performance of your equipment without any cost.
Why Manufacturers Trust It:
With its affordability and easy of use, SafetyCulture is a solid choice for SMEs that want to make improvements to their OEE tools without a ton of resources.
Emerging OEE Vendors Leveraging AI and IoT
Innovative providers are utilizing AI and IoT to provide analytics and predictive maintenance:
- Litmus Automation: This provider is utilizing edge computing and data integration in real time.
- MachineMetrics: This provider offers predictive maintenance by evaluating performance data of machines.
- Augury: This provider utilizes AI to monitor equipment health and predict machine failures ahead of time.
- Crosser Technologies: This provider offers a low-code platform for streams of industrial data, providing analytics and integration in real time.
OEE Software Market Insights
The OEE software market is on an upward trajectory, projected to hit $107.28 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 13%. This growth is fueled by:
- Increasing adoption of industrial automation
- Widespread use of IoT devices
- Tight integration of MES and ERP systems
While large manufacturers have traditionally led the adoption curve, SMEs are rapidly joining in, thanks to the availability of affordable SaaS-based OEE solutions.
Final Thoughts: Choosing the Right OEE Tool for Your Needs
There is not a single OEE software that can work for every organization. What works for you will depend on several factors—how large your operation is, your industry, how much you produce, and of course, your budget.
Here’s a quick summary to help you decide:
| Tool | Best For | Strengths |
| Autobits Labs | Smart manufacturing | Real-time data, AI-driven alerts |
| Epicor Advanced MES | Overall versatility | Robust analytics, machine compatibility |
| HYDRA X | Large-scale manufacturers | ERP integration, complex workflows |
| Aptean OEE | Process industries | Industry-specific features |
| Evocon | High-volume production lines | Real-time IIoT, visual dashboards |
| SafetyCulture (iAuditor) | SMEs and small teams | Affordability, mobile-first approach |
By investing in the right OEE software, manufacturers can achieve higher uptime, better resource allocation, and consistent quality improvements—the pillars of smart manufacturing in 2025.
