Data can be uncovered in numerous ways in the world’s globally thriving economy. As a result of utilizing manufacturing dashboards, data has become easier and more accessible to collect. The tools that are used to collect such data continue to grow and expand. Data recording of the past involved the use of columns and rows to help identify data collected for businesses. This method of data collection is outdated and no longer the most efficient way to record data. Various businesses have transitioned to using dashboards to opt for a variety of ways to view and collect data for their business. By the use of dashboards, businesses are able to quickly notice patterns and popular trends taking place in their business. This form of data collection offers a clearer representation than when opting to use spreadsheets. Any and all businesses created can benefit from a better visual representation of their data. However, the area in the industry that needs dashboards the most are manufacturers.
What Is a Manufacturing Dashboard?
Dashboards are tools used by manufacturing managers to help monitor the alignment of KPIs and metrics next to the objectives of businesses. As they are monitored managers can decipher how soon they will be able to reach their desired target. Dashboards aid in the revealing of insights that can be put into action to propel the business further in growth or simply provide an avenue that will allow for continued business. The purpose is to work to improve businesses by the measurements taken. Unfortunately, there are a vast amount of businesses that don’t get data visualization and its level of importance. Some businesses choose to simply ignore it. As a result, businesses and their tools for decision making are limited to outdated methods for data collection.
What Are the Benefits of Using a Manufacturing Dashboard?
When using manufacturing dashboards, businesses are able to:
- Collect data for cost of materials
- Establish procedures for safety
- See the growth and decline of sales
- View moments of downtime for the business
- Reject or redo business ideas/plans
- Track delivery performance
- View the output of business productivity
With manufacturing dashboards, businesses will have access to charts and other visual diagrams that show data in real-time. With these visual diagrams, managers can use the reports to oversee all aspects of the company that include but are not limited to machinery, employees and the rates of production. The added knowledge that accompanies the use of manufacturing dashboards provides those involved in the management of the company to have the opportunity to make wise decisions concerning the overall growth and well-being of the business.
The real-time data eliminates the need to maneuver between different systems when collecting data. The real-time data that is provided by the use of dashboards saves time for those involved in the collection of information. Another benefit of manufacturing dashboards affords companies the ability to measure their current performance next to the goals they have set within the strategic plan of the company.
Popular Manufacturing Dashboards
Safety Dashboard
It is very important for companies to manage work environments that are safe for those working in facilities that may contain industrial machinery that is dangerous for its operators when not used properly. Safety dashboards help ensure that there are no hazardous trends involving safety arising in the work environments.
There is a bar graph used to track incidents over the course of days, months and years. Within the graph managers are able to see which areas in the company may need a little more attention to ensure the safety of the workers.
Downtime Performance Dashboard
The monitoring of production lines and their performance allows managers to keep track of the Downtime Reason, Downtime by Bay and Production Line Summary.
- The Downtime Reason will help identify why a bay is experiencing downtime.
- Downtime by Bay will record the time each bay is experiencing downtime. This portion of the dashboards provides data to help recognize which bays are breaking down the most and which may be experiencing issues.
- The Production Line Summary will give data that will summarize the productivity of the bays over the span of a year while showing the costs required with consideration to downtime.
Dashboard for Quality Performance
Manufacturing has been globalized and whether or not a company continues to thrive in the market will be determined by the quality of the products being manufactured. When manufactures neglect to monitor the fail and defective rates, costs will rise when replacing any defective items. The Quality Performance Dashboard tracks fail rates and other components that may affect the decline of business. Utilizing this dashboard allows manufacturers to step in when fail rates may be reaching levels higher than intended.
All types of businesses benefit from the utilization of dashboards. When dashboards are not being used by businesses, many companies fail to recognize patterns they may be influencing their business in a negative or positive manner. Sisense, Dundas BI and Yellowfin are platforms that offer dashboard software for businesses.
