Dashboards are configurable, on-screen views that consolidate data from multiple sources and present it in a structured, visual format, such as charts, tables, gauges, and status indicators. In a manufacturing or MES context, dashboards display real-time information about production, quality, maintenance, or performance so that users can monitor conditions and identify issues without manually collecting data from separate systems.
Dashboards typically define:
- Data sources (e.g., machines, sensors, ERP, quality systems)
- Metrics and KPIs to be shown (e.g., throughput, downtime, scrap)
- Visual layouts that group related information for specific roles, such as operators, supervisors, or managers
- Update behavior, including refresh rate and data aggregation level
Users interact with dashboards by viewing current and recent data, drilling into details, and sometimes filtering by line, product, shift, or time range. Dashboards do not change the underlying data; they provide a focused, role-appropriate representation of it to support monitoring and follow-up actions.