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Production Order Dashboard Guide

Overview​

What is the Production Order Dashboard?​

Production Order Dashboard provides real-time visual management of all machines, work orders, and production status in a single, intuitive interface designed for manufacturing visibility.

The Problem:

  • Supervisors lack at-a-glance status of all machines on the shop floor
  • Production teams have limited visibility into work order progress and parts completion
  • Managers can't quickly identify idle machines or equipment issues
  • Work order and part information is disconnected from machine status
  • Teams lack immediate insight into upcoming jobs and machine sequencing
  • Operators and supervisors waste time gathering current state information

The Solution: A visual dashboard that shows:

  • All machines with color-coded status tiles
  • Real-time part counts vs. target quantities
  • Current work order, part number, and operation for each machine
  • How long each machine has been in current state
  • Next job information for each machine
  • Expandable view for shop floor displays

Who Uses Production Order Dashboard:

  • Plant Managers: Unified view of production status across shop floor
  • Production Supervisors: Quickly identify problem areas and idle equipment
  • Schedulers: Track job progress against schedule in real-time
  • Machine Operators: Clear indication of current and next job information
  • Production Planners: Immediate visibility into machine availability and job progress
  • Quality Managers: Direct association between machines, parts, and production orders

Key Features​

Machine Status Cards​

Color-Coded Status Tiles:

  • Green (Running): Machine actively producing parts
  • Yellow (Idle): Machine stopped, no alarm
  • Red (Fault): Machine in alarm or fault state
  • Blue (Setup): Machine in setup or changeover mode
  • Gray (Not Reporting): Machine offline or not communicating

Each Card Shows:

  • Machine name
  • Current status (running, idle, fault, setup)
  • Run duration (how long in current state)
  • Current work order number
  • Part number being produced
  • Operation/routing step (e.g., OP10, OP20)
  • Parts produced vs. target (e.g., "3,074 / 250")
  • Completion percentage (visual progress bar)

[Recommended Image]: Screenshot showing grid of machine status cards with different colors

Production Counters​

Real-Time Part Counts:

  • Parts produced (live count from machine)
  • Target quantity (from work order)
  • Progress bar (visual completion indicator)
  • Completion percentage

Update Frequency:

  • Updates in real-time as parts complete
  • No manual refresh required
  • Accurate counts directly from machine controllers

Current Work Details​

Displayed for Each Machine:

  • Production Order Number: Active work order (e.g., WO-12345)
  • Part Number: What's being produced (e.g., WIDGET-100-REV-C)
  • Operation: Current operation sequence (e.g., OP10 - Rough Mill)
  • Work Order Quantity: Total parts needed for order
  • Parts Produced: How many completed so far
  • Time in Current Status: How long machine has been running/idle/in fault

Use Cases:

  • Quick status checks: "Is Work Order 12345 running?"
  • Customer inquiries: "How many parts have we produced for this order?"
  • Shift handovers: Incoming shift sees exactly what's running

Run Duration Display​

Shows Time Machine Has Been:

  • Running (e.g., "Running for 2h 35m")
  • Idle (e.g., "Idle for 12m")
  • In Fault (e.g., "Fault for 5m")
  • In Setup (e.g., "Setup for 18m")

Why It Matters:

  • Long idle times → Investigate why machine stopped
  • Long fault times → Maintenance needed urgently
  • Long setup times → Setup improvement opportunity

Next Job Information​

Preview Upcoming Work:

  • Next work order number
  • Next part number
  • Next operation
  • Target quantity
  • Scheduled start time (if available)

Benefits:

  • Operators prepare while current job finishing (gather tools, materials, fixtures)
  • Supervisors see machine sequencing at a glance
  • Identifies gaps in scheduling (no next job assigned)

Expandable Full-Screen View​

Shop Floor Display Mode:

  • Click "Expand" icon (top-right)
  • Dashboard fills entire screen
  • Removes navigation and controls
  • Perfect for wall-mounted TVs or large monitors

Use Cases:

  • Production office display
  • Shop floor visibility boards
  • Executive dashboards
  • Team meeting screens

Machine Filtering​

View Options:

  • All Machines: Every connected machine
  • Machine Groups: Filter to specific groups (e.g., "CNC Mills", "Lathes", "Grinders")
  • Custom Filters: By status (only show Idle or Fault machines)

How to Filter:

  1. Click "Filter" button (top-left)
  2. Select machine group or status
  3. Dashboard updates to show only filtered machines

Accessing the Production Order Dashboard​

Navigation:

  • Go to Dashboards → Production → Production Order Dashboard
  • Or bookmark URL for quick access

Prerequisites:

  • Machines connected and reporting status
  • Job tracking enabled (for work order and part information)
  • ERP integration recommended (for work order details)

Permissions:

  • Available to all user roles
  • Supervisors, Managers, Executives, IT Admins have full access
  • Operators can view (read-only)

Understanding Machine Status Cards​

Status Color Meanings​

Green - Running ✅

  • Machine actively producing parts
  • Part count incrementing
  • All systems normal
  • Action: No immediate action needed, continue monitoring

Yellow - Idle ⚠️

  • Machine stopped but no alarm
  • Could be:
    • Between cycles
    • Waiting for operator
    • Waiting for material
    • Paused
  • Action: Investigate if idle >5 minutes

Red - Fault 🔴

  • Machine in alarm state
  • Production stopped due to error
  • Action: Immediate attention required

Blue - Setup 🔵

  • Machine in setup/changeover mode
  • Not producing, preparing for next job
  • Action: Monitor setup time, provide support if excessive

Gray - Not Reporting ⚪

  • Machine offline or not communicating
  • Data not flowing
  • Action: Check connectivity, Edge device status

Progress Bar Interpretation​

Visual Indicators:

  • Empty bar (0%): Job just started
  • Partial bar (1-99%): Job in progress
  • Full bar (100%): Job complete or near complete

Color Coding:

  • Green bar: On track or ahead
  • Yellow bar: Slightly behind (recoverable)
  • Red bar: Significantly behind (at risk)

Run Duration Context​

Typical Patterns:

Running State:

  • Short duration (< 5 min): Just started or between cycles
  • Medium duration (5 min - 2 hours): Normal production run
  • Long duration (> 2 hours): Long-running job or continuous operation

Idle State:

  • Very short (< 1 min): Between cycles, normal
  • Short (1-5 min): Operator may be loading/unloading, normal
  • Medium (5-15 min): Investigate - why stopped?
  • Long (> 15 min): Problem - immediate action needed

Fault State:

  • Any duration > 2 min: Problem - maintenance needed

Setup State:

  • Short (< 30 min): Normal setup
  • Medium (30-60 min): Longer than expected, monitor
  • Long (> 60 min): Investigate - excessive setup time

For Supervisors​

Morning Shift Start Routine​

Use Production Order Dashboard:

1. Quick Status Check (2 minutes)

  • Scan dashboard for machine colors
  • Identify:
    • Any machines in fault (red) → Address immediately
    • Any machines idle (yellow) → Investigate

2. Overnight Production Review

  • Which jobs ran overnight?
  • Any jobs completed?
  • Any issues occurred?

3. Plan Today's Priorities

  • Which jobs scheduled for today?
  • Are machines ready (not in fault, materials staged)?
  • Assign operators to priority jobs

4. Shift Handover

  • Use dashboard as visual aid for incoming shift
  • Point out jobs in progress
  • Highlight any issues from previous shift

Throughout Shift Monitoring​

Every 30-60 Minutes:

Scan Dashboard:

  • Any new faults (red)? → Dispatch maintenance
  • Any machines idle >10 min (yellow)? → Investigate
  • Any jobs nearing completion (progress bar full)? → Prepare next job

Priority Response:

  1. Red (Fault) → Immediate response (within 5 min)
  2. Yellow (Idle >15 min) → Investigate (within 15 min)
  3. No next job assigned → Schedule next job

Proactive Actions:

  • Jobs at 80% complete → Stage materials/tooling for next job
  • Setup taking too long → Provide operator support
  • Multiple machines idle → Workload balancing issue?

Issue Response Workflow​

Fault Condition (Red Card):

  1. Click machine card → Opens machine detail view
  2. Check Timeline → See downtime reason (if categorized)
  3. Check Alarms → What specific alarm is active?
  4. Dispatch Help:
    • Operator assistance
    • Maintenance support
    • Materials/tooling
  5. Document → Ensure downtime categorized for tracking

Idle Condition (Yellow Card >15 min):

  1. Physically check machine → Why stopped?
  2. Common causes:
    • Waiting for material
    • Waiting for quality inspection
    • Operator on break
    • Forgot to start next job
  3. Resolve → Address root cause
  4. Prevent → Set up alerts for long idle times

For Production Planners​

Capacity Visibility​

At-a-Glance Capacity View:

  • How many machines are running?
  • How many are idle and available?
  • How many are in setup?
  • How many are down (fault)?

Capacity Calculation:

Available Capacity = (Running + Idle) machines
Utilized Capacity = Running machines
Utilization % = (Running ÷ Total Machines) × 100

Use Cases:

  • Can we fit in one more job today?
  • Do we have capacity for expedite request?
  • Should we schedule overtime?

Job Progress Tracking​

Check Multiple Jobs:

  1. Use search or filter to find specific work orders
  2. View completion percentage for each
  3. Identify jobs behind schedule (red progress bars)
  4. Estimate completion times based on actual rate

Real-Time Production Counts:

  • No waiting for end-of-shift reports
  • Update customer service immediately
  • Adjust downstream scheduling based on actual progress

Jobs at Risk:

  • Low completion % with due date approaching
  • Frequent faults or long idle times on that machine
  • Setup time excessive
  • Action: Expedite, add capacity, or adjust schedule

Next Job Visibility​

See Machine Sequencing:

  • Which machines have next jobs assigned?
  • Which machines have gaps (no next job)?
  • Fill gaps with available work orders

Preventing Idle Time:

  • Assign next jobs before current jobs complete
  • Ensure materials staged for next jobs
  • Coordinate with scheduling team

For Plant Managers​

Daily Production Meetings​

Use Dashboard on Meeting Room Screen:

Metrics to Discuss:

  • Overall utilization (% of machines running)
  • Number of machines in fault
  • Jobs completed yesterday
  • Jobs in progress today
  • On-time delivery status (based on progress)

Visual Impact:

  • Team sees real shop floor state
  • Color-coded tiles make problems obvious
  • No data entry or preparation needed

Action Items:

  • Red cards (faults) → Assign owners, set deadlines
  • Consistent idle machines → Investigate root causes
  • Jobs behind → Expedite actions

Executive Visibility​

Walk-Through with Leadership:

  • Open dashboard on tablet
  • Walk shop floor
  • Compare dashboard to physical machines (should match)
  • Highlight improvements since last visit

Key Messages:

  • "Real-time visibility into production"
  • "X% utilization today"
  • "Y jobs in progress, Z jobs completed"

Configuration Options​

Customizable Third-Line Information​

Default Display (Third Line on Card):

  • Operation name (e.g., "OP10 - Rough Mill")

Alternative Options:

  • Operation description (longer text description)
  • Operator name (who's running the job)
  • Customer name (who ordered the part)
  • Custom field (from ERP)

How to Configure:

  1. Navigate to Settings → Production Order Dashboard
  2. Select "Third Line Display" dropdown
  3. Choose option
  4. Click "Save"
  5. Dashboard updates for all users

Timeline Toggle​

Timeline View Option:

  • Shows machine status history over time
  • Horizontal bars for each machine
  • Color-coded by status
  • Useful for pattern analysis

How to Enable:

  1. Click "Show Timeline" toggle (top-right)
  2. Dashboard splits: Cards on left, timeline on right
  3. Adjust time range (last hour, last shift, last day)

Visual Legend​

Status Legend:

  • Always visible at top of dashboard
  • Color key:
    • 🟢 Running
    • 🟡 Idle
    • 🔴 Fault
    • 🔵 Setup
    • ⚪ Not Reporting

Can be Hidden:

  • Click "Hide Legend" to maximize card space
  • Useful once team familiar with color meanings

Refresh Rate​

Automatic Updates:

  • Dashboard refreshes every 5 seconds (default)
  • No manual refresh needed

Configurable:

  • Settings → Production Order Dashboard → Refresh Rate
  • Options: 5s, 10s, 30s, 60s
  • Faster = more real-time, more data usage
  • Slower = less data usage, slightly less responsive

Best Practices​

For Supervisors​

  1. Keep dashboard open all shift: Reference frequently throughout day
  2. Respond to faults within 5 minutes: Red cards = immediate action
  3. Investigate idle >10 minutes: Yellow cards shouldn't linger
  4. Use for shift handovers: Visual communication tool
  5. Pair with physical walkdowns: Dashboard + floor checks = complete picture

For Operators​

  1. Check next job preview: Prepare while current job finishing
  2. Update progress if manual: Ensure counts accurate
  3. Categorize downtime: Helps supervisors understand issues
  4. Report alarms: Clear faults promptly

For Planners​

  1. Check dashboard before scheduling: Verify capacity available
  2. Monitor job progress daily: Update schedules based on actuals
  3. Assign next jobs proactively: Prevent idle time
  4. Use data for planning: Historical patterns inform future schedules

For Managers​

  1. Display on shop floor TVs: Increase transparency
  2. Review in daily meetings: Data-driven discussions
  3. Track utilization trends: Month-over-month improvements
  4. Celebrate wins: Recognize high utilization days

Troubleshooting​

Machine Status Not Updating​

Possible Causes:

  • Machine connectivity issue
  • Edge device offline
  • Browser cache issue

Solutions:

  1. Check machine Timeline → Are recent data points showing?
  2. Check Edge device status (Assets → Edge Devices)
  3. Refresh browser (F5 or Cmd+R)
  4. Clear browser cache

Work Order Information Missing​

Possible Causes:

  • Job tracking not enabled
  • ERP integration not configured
  • Machine not running a job

Solutions:

  1. Verify job tracking enabled (Settings → Production)
  2. Check ERP connector status (Settings → Integrations)
  3. Confirm machine has active job (Production → Jobs)

Part Counts Not Incrementing​

Possible Causes:

  • Part count not mapped correctly
  • Machine not producing parts (in setup or idle)
  • Virtual Part Counter warmup period

Solutions:

  1. Check machine data mapping (Machine Settings → Data Mapping)
  2. Verify machine in "Running" status
  3. Wait for VPC warmup if using Virtual Part Counter

Next Job Not Showing​

Possible Causes:

  • No next job scheduled
  • Schedule not synced from ERP
  • Current job not linked to schedule

Solutions:

  1. Check production schedule (Production → Schedule)
  2. Verify ERP sync status
  3. Manually assign next job if needed

Questions? Contact support@machinemetrics.com