Industrial Dashboard
Industrial Dashboards for Real-Time Production Visibility
Industrial automation systems generate significant amounts of operational data, but collecting data alone does not help businesses make better decisions. The information needs to be presented clearly so production, engineering and management teams can quickly understand how equipment and processes are performing.
Industrial dashboards transform data from PLCs, SCADA systems and production equipment into clear visual information, providing real-time visibility of the metrics that matter to your operation.
At Stratos, we develop industrial dashboards that bring production data, equipment status, downtime information and operational KPIs together in a clear and accessible format, helping businesses identify problems faster and make better-informed decisions.
What Is an Industrial Dashboard?
An industrial dashboard is a visual interface that presents operational data collected from industrial automation and control systems.
Rather than requiring users to interpret raw PLC values or navigate multiple SCADA screens, dashboards present important information in an easy-to-understand format.
Depending on the application, an industrial dashboard may display:
• Production output.
• Machine status.
• Downtime.
• Equipment availability.
• Process values.
• Alarm information.
• Energy consumption.
• Production targets.
• Quality information.
• Operational KPIs.
The information displayed is tailored to the people using the dashboard and the decisions they need to make.
Real-Time Production Monitoring
Industrial dashboards can provide an immediate overview of what is happening across a machine, production line or facility.
Real-time information may include:
• Machines running or stopped.
• Current production output.
• Production targets.
• Equipment faults.
• Process conditions.
• Line speeds.
• Cycle times.
• Current alarms.
• Production status.
This allows teams to identify changes in performance without waiting for manual reports or investigating individual machines.
Production KPI Dashboards
Different areas of a business require different information.
A production manager may need an overview of output and downtime, while an engineer may require detailed equipment performance information.
Dashboards can be developed around KPIs such as:
• Production output.
• Target versus actual production.
• Equipment availability.
• Downtime.
• Cycle time.
• Reject rates.
• Machine utilisation.
• Production efficiency.
Presenting these metrics consistently makes it easier to identify trends and areas requiring attention.
Machine and Equipment Status
When production facilities contain multiple machines, understanding the status of individual assets can become difficult.
An industrial dashboard can provide a central overview showing whether equipment is:
• Running.
• Stopped.
• Idle.
• In manual mode.
• In automatic mode.
• In fault.
• Awaiting operator intervention.
• Under maintenance.
This gives production and maintenance teams a clearer picture of equipment availability across the operation.
Downtime Monitoring
Unplanned downtime can have a significant impact on production performance.
Industrial dashboards can help businesses monitor:
• Machine stoppages.
• Duration of downtime.
• Frequency of failures.
• Fault conditions.
• Production interruptions.
• Recurring equipment problems.
• Areas responsible for lost production.
When combined with historical information, this can help engineering teams identify recurring issues and prioritise improvement activities.
PLC and SCADA Data Integration
Industrial dashboards rely on accurate information from the automation systems controlling the process.
Depending on the existing infrastructure, dashboard data may originate from:
• PLCs.
• SCADA systems.
• HMIs.
• Variable Speed Drives.
• Motor Control Centres.
• Instrumentation.
• Production equipment.
• Industrial communication networks.
Stratos' experience across PLC programming and SCADA integration allows us to consider the complete data path from the equipment in the field through to the information presented to the user.
Historical Trends and Performance
Real-time information tells you what is happening now. Historical data helps explain what has been happening over time.
Industrial dashboards can provide visibility of:
• Production trends.
• Equipment performance.
• Downtime patterns.
• Process variations.
• Alarm frequency.
• Energy consumption.
• Production efficiency.
Historical analysis can help identify gradual performance deterioration or recurring problems that may not be obvious during normal operation.
Dashboards for Different Users
Not everyone needs to see the same information.
Dashboards can be tailored to the requirements of different teams.
Production Teams
Focus on:
• Current output.
• Production targets.
• Machine status.
• Downtime.
• Line performance.
Maintenance Teams
Focus on:
• Equipment faults.
• Alarm frequency.
• Machine availability.
• Recurring failures.
• Maintenance priorities.
Engineering Teams
Focus on:
• Process values.
• Equipment performance.
• Historical trends.
• Control system information.
• Diagnostic data.
Management Teams
Focus on:
• Production KPIs.
• Overall performance.
• Downtime.
• Efficiency.
• Trends.
Providing each user with relevant information reduces unnecessary complexity and makes dashboards more useful.
Industrial Dashboard Design
A dashboard should make information easier to understand rather than simply placing more data on a screen.
Effective dashboard design considers:
• Clear information hierarchy.
• Relevant KPIs.
• Consistent terminology.
• Logical grouping.
• Simple navigation.
• Appropriate trends and charts.
• Alarm and fault visibility.
• User requirements.
The objective is to help users understand operational performance quickly without overwhelming them with unnecessary information.
Supporting Continuous Improvement
Industrial dashboards can provide valuable information for continuous improvement programmes.
By making performance information more accessible, businesses can identify:
• Recurring downtime.
• Production bottlenecks.
• Underperforming equipment.
• Process instability.
• Increasing fault frequency.
• Opportunities for optimisation.
This allows improvement activities to be based on operational data rather than assumptions.
Why Choose Stratos for Industrial Dashboards?
An effective industrial dashboard depends on the quality and context of the data behind it.
Stratos combines expertise in PLC programming, SCADA systems and industrial automation, allowing us to understand both how operational data is generated and how it should be presented.
Rather than creating dashboards in isolation, we develop solutions around the processes, equipment and operational requirements of the facility.
Whether you need greater production visibility, improved downtime monitoring or clearer operational KPIs, we can help turn your existing automation data into information your teams can use.
Turn Industrial Data into Operational Insight
Your automation systems already generate valuable information. Stratos develops industrial dashboards that turn PLC and SCADA data into clear production insights, helping your teams monitor performance, identify downtime and make better-informed operational decisions. Speak to our engineers about creating a dashboard around the information that matters to your business.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an industrial dashboard?
An industrial dashboard presents operational information from PLCs, SCADA systems and production equipment in a clear visual format, helping users monitor performance and identify problems.
What information can an industrial dashboard display?
Dashboards can display production output, machine status, downtime, alarms, process values, equipment availability, energy information and other operational KPIs.
Can a dashboard use data from existing PLCs?
Yes. Depending on the existing automation architecture and communication capabilities, data from existing PLCs can often be used without replacing the control system.
What is the difference between a SCADA system and an industrial dashboard?
SCADA typically provides supervisory monitoring and control of industrial processes. An industrial dashboard is generally focused on presenting selected operational information and KPIs in a simplified format for specific users.
Can different teams have different dashboards?
Yes. Dashboards can be designed around the requirements of production, maintenance, engineering and management teams so each user sees the information most relevant to their role.