UNDER CURRENT ECONOMIC CONDITIONS, SEVERE GLOBAL COMPETITION AND POSTPONEMENT OF NEW EQUIPMENT PURCHASES ARE CAUSING BUSINESS EXECUTIVES TO BE SENSITIVE ABOUT ALL ASPECTS OF MANUFACTURING OPERATIONAL COSTS. IN THIS ENVIRONMENT, IT PAYS TO CONSIDER BOTH CREATIVE AND PROVEN METHODS THAT MANUFACTURERS CAN USE TO BRING THEIR PRODUCT TO MARKET AT MINI-MUM COST. "OVERALL EQUIPMENT EFFECTIVENESS" (OEE) IS A METHOD THAT MEETS THIS OBJECTIVE.