Challenges in integrating sustainability into Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE): a trade-off-based Roadmap

Abstract

Abstract Integrating operational excellence with sustainable performance has become a key priority in manufacturing systems. However, traditional performance metrics remain limited in their ability to capture sustainability dimensions. This study employs a systematic literature review of peer-reviewed studies published up to May 2026 to examine how Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), a widely used efficiency metric, has been integrated with sustainability in manufacturing. The results show that existing studies remain conceptually fragmented and analytically inconsistent in explaining the interactions between operational efficiency and sustainability dimensions, with a predominant focus on environmental aspects and limited consideration of social sustainability. Current approaches also do not explicitly address trade-offs between operational efficiency and sustainability objectives. To address this gap, the study proposes an Integrated OEE-Sustainability Roadmap that structures trade-off-oriented analysis through baseline characterisation, resource optimisation, balance, and improvement. The roadmap is supported by a Pareto-based multi-criteria perspective, which helps identify alternative balance points rather than a single optimal solution. This perspective makes trade-offs explicit and supports practical judgement in decision-making. This study clarifies the OEE-sustainability relationship and highlights the need for future research to support integrated, sustainability-oriented decision-making in manufacturing systems.