Using Dashboards 📊

Dashboards are your command center for monitoring your manufacturing business. This guide will show you how to customize your dashboard, view key metrics, and track your performance in real-time.

Before You Start

Make sure you have:

• Access to the Dashboard (all user roles)
• Permission to customize (Manager or Admin role for customization)
• Data in your system (users, materials, work orders, etc.)

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Access Your Dashboard

1. Look at the left sidebar on your screen
2. Find the "OVERVIEW" section
3. Click on "Dashboard" - this will take you to your main dashboard

Step 2: Understand Your Dashboard

Your dashboard shows several key areas:

Header Section

• Welcome message with your name
• Customize button (if you have permission)
• Date and time information

Widget Area

• Performance metrics and KPIs
• Recent activity and notifications
• Quick action buttons for common tasks
• Charts and graphs showing trends

Step 3: Customize Your Dashboard (Optional)

If you have permission to customize:

1. Click the "Customize" button in the top-right corner
2. The dashboard will enter edit mode - you'll see additional options
3. Add new widgets:
   • Click "Add Widget" or the "+" button
   • Select from available widget types
   • Choose the data you want to display
4. Rearrange widgets:
   • Drag and drop widgets to new positions
   • Resize widgets by dragging corners
5. Remove widgets:
   • Click the "X" button on unwanted widgets
6. Save your layout:
   • Click "Save Layout" when you're done
   • Your changes will be saved for future sessions

Dashboard Widgets Explained

Production Widgets

• Work Orders: Shows active work orders and their status
• Production Output: Displays daily/weekly production numbers
• Machine Utilization: Shows how much your equipment is being used
• Quality Metrics: Displays quality performance and inspection results

Inventory Widgets

• Stock Levels: Shows current inventory levels
• Low Stock Alerts: Highlights materials that need reordering
• Material Usage: Tracks how much material is being consumed
• Supplier Performance: Shows delivery times and quality from suppliers

Financial Widgets

• Revenue: Displays sales and revenue information
• Cost Tracking: Shows production costs and profitability
• Quote Status: Tracks quotes and conversion rates
• Customer Spending: Shows customer order history and value

Operational Widgets

• Employee Activity: Shows who's working on what
• Time Tracking: Displays labor hours and efficiency
• Maintenance Schedule: Shows upcoming equipment maintenance
• Shipping Status: Tracks orders ready for shipment

Tips and Best Practices

Dashboard Organization

• Group related widgets: Put similar metrics together
• Prioritize important data: Put key metrics at the top
• Use appropriate sizes: Make important widgets larger
• Keep it clean: Don't overcrowd with too many widgets

Data Interpretation

• Understand the metrics: Know what each number means
• Look for trends: Pay attention to patterns over time
• Set benchmarks: Compare performance to goals
• Take action: Use data to make decisions

Regular Monitoring

• Check daily: Review key metrics every day
• Weekly review: Do a deeper analysis weekly
• Monthly analysis: Look at trends and patterns monthly
• Quarterly planning: Use data for strategic planning

Performance Optimization

• Identify bottlenecks: Look for areas slowing down production
• Track efficiency: Monitor productivity improvements
• Cost control: Watch for cost overruns
• Quality focus: Monitor quality metrics closely

Advanced Dashboard Features

Real-Time Updates

• Live data: Dashboard updates automatically
• Notifications: Get alerts for important events
• Status changes: See work order status updates in real-time
• Inventory changes: Track stock level changes as they happen

Drill-Down Capability

• Click on widgets: Get more detailed information
• Filter data: Focus on specific time periods or categories
• Export reports: Download data for further analysis
• Compare periods: Look at performance over different time frames

Custom Alerts

• Set thresholds: Get notified when metrics go above/below limits
• Email notifications: Receive alerts via email
• Dashboard highlights: Important items are highlighted
• Action items: See what needs attention

Troubleshooting

Dashboard Not Loading

• Check your internet connection
• Refresh the page
• Clear your browser cache
• Contact support if the problem persists

Missing Data

• Verify that data exists in your system
• Check if you have permission to view the data
• Make sure the data is recent and up-to-date
• Contact your administrator if needed

Widget Not Working

• Try removing and re-adding the widget
• Check if the data source is available
• Verify your permissions for that data
• Contact support for technical issues

Customization Issues

• Make sure you have permission to customize
• Try saving your changes more frequently
• Check if other users have made conflicting changes
• Contact your administrator for permission issues

Dashboard Best Practices by Role

For Operators

• Focus on your work: Monitor assigned tasks and work orders
• Track your time: Use time tracking widgets
• Quality awareness: Pay attention to quality metrics
• Safety first: Monitor safety-related information

For Managers

• Production overview: Monitor overall production performance
• Resource allocation: Track equipment and labor utilization
• Cost management: Watch for cost overruns
• Quality control: Monitor quality trends and issues

For Administrators

• System health: Monitor system performance and usage
• User activity: Track user logins and activity
• Data integrity: Watch for data quality issues
• Security: Monitor for unusual activity

Next Steps

Now that you understand your dashboard, you might want to:

• Managing Work Orders - Use dashboard data to manage production
• Cost Tracking - Monitor costs and profitability
• Reporting & Analytics - Generate detailed reports
• Quality Control - Track quality performance

Need Help?

• 📖 Check other guides in this documentation
• 🎯 Use the search feature to find specific information
• 💬 Contact support if you need additional help

That's it! You're now ready to use your dashboard to monitor and improve your manufacturing performance. 🎉