How do I craft a production dashboard in my plant using Microsoft Excel? Let’s start from the very beginning.
In another article, we told you about the pitfalls of managing your entire factory using excel. It happens that many companies want to start their digital transformation and need to start internally, with a pilot project, and then hire an appropriate tool.
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Our Chief Data Officer, Eduardo Weingartner, has shot a video on the subject. On it, you will see how to use your machine data to create a production analysis dashboard.
To complement this, Eduardo mentions some tools that can be integrated into the dashboard in Excel.
When to subscribe to a production analytics software?
First of all, nice question! Excel has very sensitive limitations (like Human error/data reliability, Data availability/information flow, Dashboards, and views / Important data can be hidden) and at some point, you will no longer be able to get relevant insights. This will impair your decision making for operational efficiency and cost reduction.
Three of the main times to look for a professional solution are when you need more automation, powerful reports, and data reliability. This is the stage where professional software can be extremely useful.
In addition, models such as Software as a Service (SaaS), mean that specialized companies are always updating the product and gathering feedback from customers around the world. This helps your factory not to worry about maintenance or corrections.
Can I jump straight from paper to a digital solution to control my production?
Another good question that can blow through the minds of plant managers around the globe. And the answer is: YES. It is undoubtedly advisable to take this route. This avoids a lot of time of internal failures and headaches, jumping straight to a professional solution.
Always try to work with a risk-sharing logic on both sides, looking for a pilot project, POC (proof of concept), or trial period. But remember, it is essential that these tests are real on your side as well.
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