A well-designed manufacturing dashboard offers real-time insights into critical metrics like production efficiency, defect rates, and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).
Dashboards help teams to quickly identify bottlenecks, reduce downtime, and ensure product quality. However, to unlock their full potential, focusing on the right Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) is crucial.
This article will explore examples of effective manufacturing dashboards and highlight essential KPIs every business should track to maintain operational excellence.
A manufacturing dashboard is a visual tool that provides real-time insights into a manufacturing operation’s key metrics and performance indicators.
It consolidates data from various sources, such as production lines, machines, and quality control systems, into an easy-to-understand format, typically using charts, graphs, and tables.
The purpose of a manufacturing dashboard is to help managers monitor and analyze manufacturing data important factors like production efficiency, equipment performance, defect rates, and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).
10 Manufacturing KPIs & Metrics For Dashboards
Here’s a comprehensive list of Manufacturing KPIs & Metrics that are crucial for tracking in a manufacturing dashboard. These KPIs help optimize production, maintain quality, and improve efficiency:
1. Production Output
Description: Measures the total quantity of products produced within a given time frame.
Good Result: High production output indicates efficient manufacturing processes and strong demand.
Bad Result: Low production output may signal inefficiencies, equipment failures, or insufficient workforce.
Formula: Total Units Produced / Time Period
2. On-Time Delivery (OTD)
Description: Measures the percentage of orders delivered on or before the promised date.
Good Result: A high OTD rate indicates strong supply chain management and customer satisfaction.
Bad Result: A low OTD rate can lead to customer dissatisfaction, lost sales, and penalties.
Formula: On-Time Deliveries / Total Deliveries * 100
3. Defect Rate
Description: Measures the percentage of products that do not meet quality standards.
Good Result: A low defect rate indicates high product quality and efficient manufacturing processes.
Bad Result: A high defect rate can lead to customer dissatisfaction, rework costs, and increased scrap.
Formula: Defective Units / Total Units Produced * 100
4. First Pass Yield (FPY)
Description: Measures the percentage of products that pass quality checks without needing rework.
Good Result: A high FPY indicates efficient manufacturing processes and reduced costs.
Bad Result: A low FPY can lead to increased costs, longer lead times, and reduced customer satisfaction.
Formula: Units Passing Inspection / Total Units Produced * 100
5. Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE)
Description: Combines availability, performance, and quality to assess the efficiency of manufacturing equipment.
Good Result: A high OEE indicates efficient equipment utilization and minimal downtime.
Bad Result: A low OEE may signal equipment failures, inefficient processes, or poor maintenance.
Formula: Availability * Performance * Quality
6. Inventory Turnover
Description: Measures how efficiently inventory is used and replenished.
Good Result: A high inventory turnover indicates effective inventory management and reduced carrying costs.
Bad Result: A low inventory turnover may signal excess inventory or slow-moving products.
Formula: Cost of Goods Sold / Average Inventory
7. Cycle Time
Description: Measures the average time it takes to produce one unit.
Good Result: A short cycle time indicates efficient production processes and faster delivery times.
Bad Result: A long cycle time can lead to delays, increased costs, and reduced customer satisfaction.
Formula: Total Production Time / Units Produced
8. Scrap Rate
Description: Measures the percentage of materials wasted during production.
Good Result: A low scrap rate indicates efficient material usage and reduced costs.
Bad Result: A high scrap rate can lead to increased costs, environmental impact, and reduced profitability.
Formula: Scrap Quantity / Total Materials Used * 100
9. Employee Productivity
Description: Measures the output of employees per unit of time.
Good Result: High employee productivity indicates efficient workforce utilization and increased output.
Bad Result: Low employee productivity may signal training issues, low morale, or inefficient processes.
Manufacturing dashboards come in several types, each tailored to track and visualize specific aspects of production processes.
Depending on the focus of your operations, different dashboard types can provide targeted insights to improve efficiency, quality, and overall performance.
Here are the main types of manufacturing dashboards:
1. Production Dashboard
Purpose: Focuses on monitoring the efficiency and output of the production line.
Key Metrics:
Production Output: Total units produced.
Cycle Time: Time taken to complete one production cycle.
First Pass Yield (FPY): Percentage of products that pass quality checks without rework.
Best For: Plant managers and production teams aiming to improve manufacturing throughput and cycle times.
2. Quality Control Dashboard
Purpose: Tracks product quality and identifies issues that could affect product standards.
Key Metrics:
Defect Rate: Percentage of defective products.
Scrap Rate: Amount of material wasted during production.
Corrective Actions: Number of quality issues addressed.
Best For: Quality assurance teams monitoring product defects and ensuring quality compliance.