Dashboards for manufacturing
Management only sees how production is doing in month-end reports, and the current BI tool doesn't support the calculations or interaction needed.
▶ The solution
I build management dashboards from scratch with my own code instead of off-the-shelf BI tools. No limits on design, interaction, data sources or calculations; the dashboard is shaped exactly around what your business needs.
▶ Use case
A custom dashboard shows efficiency, downtime and scrap by line, shift and product on one screen, with every indicator drillable.
▶ Data you need
Production tracking data, downtime and scrap records, and order and stock data from the ERP.
The industry's data landscape
In manufacturing, data usually lives in the ERP (orders, stock, purchasing), in production tracking (downtime, scrap, shifts) and in quality records. These systems rarely talk to each other; even the same product can carry different codes in each. So the first job is often to bring them together in one table.
A custom management dashboard is a web application written from scratch around your data and your decisions. Charts, drill-downs, filters, custom calculations, role-based access, mobile views and embedding into your internal portal are designed to fit the need.
The math behind it
Correct rate = Σ numerator / Σ denominator ≠ average(numerator / denominator)
- Example: store A makes 10 sales from 100 visitors, store B 45 from 900.
- The average of the rates is 7.5%; the real conversion is 55 / 1,000 = 5.5%.
How I work
- Week 1
Decisions and users.
Who is the dashboard for, and for which decisions? Which metrics, at what level of detail, on which device? The screens are clear on paper before any building starts.
- Weeks 2–3
Data connections and calculations.
Sources are connected, metrics are calculated with one definition, and the refresh schedule is set up. This is where the numbers under the dashboard are made right.
- Weeks 3–5
Design and build.
The dashboard is built with real users in short cycles. Every cycle ends with a working version that is shaped by feedback.
- Final week
Launch and handover.
The dashboard goes live in the agreed environment and access is set up. How it works and how to update it is documented and handed to your team.
▶ Questions and answers
Dashboards for manufacturing — what data do you need?
Production tracking data, downtime and scrap records, and order and stock data from the ERP.
When is this the wrong choice?
Your current BI tool already meets your needs. There is no point replacing a setup that works. If the tool isn't the problem, a new dashboard won't fix it. Your team wants to keep changing the dashboard itself. If a team that doesn't code wants to add new charts every week, a BI tool's self-service features may fit better.
How does this work start?
With a short intro call. I listen to what you need and tell you plainly whether your data is enough for the job and what the first step should be. I reply to every message within 24 hours.
▶ Concepts
Linked to Wikipedia and Wikidata.
▶ Sources
- [1]Wikipedia, Simpson's paradox, 2026-10. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simpson%27s_paradox
- [2]Wikipedia, Performance indicator, 2026-10. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Performance_indicator
▶ Intro call
Let's talk about your situation.
In a 30-minute call I listen to what you need and tell you plainly how I can help.
Book an intro call▶ In other industries