What is a Manufacturing KPI Dashboard?
Manufacturers rely on a lot of data to make sure that the factory is running smoothly, to measure efficiency, and to improve processes when needed. A manufacturing analytics dashboard is a one-stop-shop where managers can see a visual representation of all of the data that’s been gathered and the manufacturing KPI metrics that have been measured.
A real time manufacturing dashboard brings together all of the data collected from all of the machines, sensors and even workers themselves, giving the user a picture that is as broad or as detailed as needed. The dashboard is a huge time-saver providing relevant production metrics at the click of a button.
Why Track Production Metrics?
A manufacturing analytics dashboard sounds great, but why is it important to track all of these production metrics in the first place? As any manufacturer knows, the more that operations can be streamlined and made more efficient, the easier it is to lower costs and boost productivity – the ultimate goal.
The only way to improve a process is first to understand that process thoroughly. And there’s no better way to do that than to track a range of manufacturing KPI metrics. With all of the metrics clearly displayed on a manufacturing KPI dashboard, it’s easy for a manufacturer to quickly spot where the problems lie and then strategize accordingly.
How to Choose Manufacturing KPI Metrics to Track?
With so many options of production metrics, it can become overwhelming to narrow it down and decide which are the most important measurements to track and display on a manufacturing KPI dashboard. In general, manufacturing KPI metrics track things like daily output, production costs, maintenance costs per machine, length of production cycles, downtime, and more. Each manufacturer must choose the KPIs that will best track their specific goals.
Following are some of the most common manufacturing KPIs:
- Cycle time – the amount of time it takes from the very start of the production process to completion of the product.
- Production volume – total amount of goods produced over a specified time frame.
- Maintenance costs – all expenses related to upkeep and repairs of machinery and equipment.
- Capacity utilization – comparison of the factory’s capacity for production vs. how much is actually being produced.
- Production costs – all expenses related to the production of goods, including labor, raw materials, taxes, and overheads.
- Defect density – comparison of defective units produced in one run vs. those that are up to standard.
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Collecting so many production metrics can create an overwhelming amount of data to be analyzed and absorbed. It is helpful to have several factory KPI dashboards, each reflecting information that suits a different purpose. Following are examples of real time manufacturing dashboards that a factory may use:
- OEE dashboard – as one of the key production metrics used by most manufacturers, a dashboard for monitoring overall equipment effectiveness can help a manufacturer ensure that the production line is operating at peak efficiency at all times.
- Quality dashboard – quality KPIs in manufacturing help to make sure that the goods produced are fit for purpose and meet customer expectations. This type of dashboard keeps track of all quality-related metrics to make sure that high-quality standards are met.
- Downtime dashboard – any machine that is not working when it’s meant to has an impact on overall factory productivity. Monitoring unplanned downtime over time identifies trends and helps determine the root causes behind the problems that can then be remedied.
