Stop Guessing on Production Runs and Delays Get Real-Time Dashboard Visibility
Imagine slashing material waste by 30% and spotting bottlenecks before they tank your deadlines. We're talking custom dashboards that pull data from your CAD software, ERP, and shop floor sensors into one clear view—no more flying blind on the fab floor.
Join 150+ fabrication shops with clearer workflows and faster ROI
The "Fab Floor Fog" Problem
Scattered Data from CAD Software to CNC Mills and Lathes
Unseen Delays in Welding Booths and Assembly Lines for Structural Beams
Material Shortages in Steel Rebar or Sheet Metal Inventories Catching You Off Guard
KPI Blind Spots in Custom Part Tolerances for Machined Components
Siloed Reports Between Shop Floor ERP and Office BIM Models
Overloaded Schedules Without Capacity Insights on Press Brakes or Shear Lines
Build Your Custom Fabrication Dashboard – Tailored for the Fab Shop Chaos
We've engineered dashboards for over 50 fabrication shops, turning raw shop data into field-tested tools that drive real ROI on the floor.
Why Choose Us
Let's be honest, running a custom fab shop means juggling blueprints, machine downtimes, and tight client deadlines. You're probably thinking, 'Another dashboard? I've seen those generic ones—they don't get my workflow.' Here's the thing: we don't do templates. At AIQ Labs, we dive into your exact setup—integrating with your CAD systems like SolidWorks, ERP like JobBOSS, and even IoT sensors on your CNC mills. The result? A unified dashboard that gives you real-time visibility into production runs, just like having a digital foreman watching every weld and cut. No more data silos; everything flows into actionable insights that keep your shop humming and your margins intact.
What Makes Us Different:
Unlock Clear Visibility That Powers Smarter Fab Decisions
Spot Production Bottlenecks Before They Build Up
Spot Production Bottlenecks Before They Build Up: Picture this: your fiber laser cutter's jamming on a batch of structural plates, but you're the last to know. Our dashboards flag it in seconds with alerts on cycle times, OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness), and throughput from your CNC routers, cutting downtime by up to 25% and keeping jobs on track for those rush orders in high-rise construction builds—often within the same shift.
Track Material Yields and Slash Waste
Track Material Yields and Slash Waste: In steel fabrication, every scrap piece from angle iron hits your wallet. Get real-time KPI tracking on yield rates from your plasma tables, tube benders, and guillotines, revealing patterns that let you optimize nesting layouts and reduce waste by 20-30% over quarterly cycles. It's like having an extra set of eyes on your raw stock inventory without hiring more inventory clerks.
Make Informed Quotes with Data-Backed Insights
Make Informed Quotes with Data-Backed Insights: Quoting custom steel frames or precast concrete forms? Stop relying on gut feel. Dashboards consolidate historical job data from past weldments, machine capacities on your waterjets, and labor hours into predictive views via integrated MES (Manufacturing Execution System), helping you price accurately within 5% margins, win more bids on commercial projects, and avoid underquoting nightmares that eat into profits by thousands per job.
What Clients Say
"Before AIQ's dashboard, we were chasing ghosts on the shop floor—delays in our aluminum extrusion line for balcony railings cost us two big commercial contracts last quarter. Now, with real-time tracking tied to our ERP and IoT sensors on the extruders, we've cut lead times by 15 days and hit 95% on-time delivery for site installations. It's a game-changer for our custom railings work in urban developments."
Mike Harlan
Shop Floor Supervisor, Precision Fab Works Inc.
"Our old spreadsheets couldn't handle the volume from multiple CNC mills and lathes churning out HVAC duct fittings. AIQ built us a custom view that pulls tolerances and spindle run times directly from the machines— we've dropped rework by 40% on stainless steel parts over the last six months. Honestly, it's like they read our pain points from day one in high-volume production runs."
Sarah Kline
Operations Director, Metro Metal Crafters LLC
"Fabricating trusses and panels for construction sites means zero room for errors in scheduling around crane deliveries. Their dashboard integrates our MIG weld logs, RFID material feeds, and capacity from the robotic weld cells, spotting overloads early. Saved us $12K in overtime last month alone on a bridge project, and the team's actually using it daily for shift handoffs."
Tom Reyes
Lead Fabricator, BuildForge Industries Ltd.
Simple 3-Step Process
Discovery Dive into Your Fab Workflow
We start by mapping your shop— from initial CAD designs to final assembly. No assumptions; we learn your pain points, like those sneaky delays in heat treating, to ensure the dashboard fits like a custom jig.
Data Integration and Custom Build
Next, we connect your tools—ERP, shop sensors, even legacy machines—into a seamless system. We code it from scratch, testing on real fab scenarios to deliver prototypes that track KPIs like OEE in weeks, not months.
Deployment and Ongoing Optimization
Roll it out with training for your floor team, then refine based on live data. As your shop evolves—new mills or bigger runs—we tweak it, ensuring it stays a reliable asset, not just another tool gathering dust.
Why We're Different
What's Included
Common Questions
How do your dashboards integrate with our existing CAD and ERP systems?
We make integration straightforward and robust, tailored to tools like AutoCAD, SolidWorks, or ERP systems such as Epicor and JobBOSS common in fab shops. Starting with a deep audit of your data flows, we use secure APIs to pull in real-time info from design files to machine outputs. For instance, we'll sync blueprint revisions directly to production schedules, eliminating manual uploads that cause errors. It's all custom-coded to handle the unique data structures in fabrication—no brittle connectors that fail during peak runs. Most shops see full integration in 4-6 weeks, with testing on live jobs to ensure it captures nuances like variable material thicknesses. This creates a single pane of glass for your entire workflow, reducing data entry time by hours daily.
What kinds of KPIs can we track in a custom fab dashboard?
We focus on the metrics that matter most to fabrication efficiency, like OEE for your CNC machines, scrap rates per material type (steel, aluminum, etc.), and on-time completion for custom orders. You'll get dashboards showing cycle times from plasma cutting to final assembly, plus predictive alerts for potential delays in heat treating or powder coating. For example, we can visualize throughput bottlenecks, such as when your bending brake queues up behind welding. Everything's customizable—track labor hours against job quotes or monitor tolerance compliance to catch quality issues early. These aren't off-the-shelf charts; we build them to reflect your shop's realities, helping you make data-driven calls that cut waste and speed up deliveries for construction clients.
How much does a custom dashboard cost for a mid-sized fab shop?
Costs vary based on your setup's complexity, but for a typical 20-50 employee fab shop with 5-10 machines, expect $25K-$50K for a full build, including integration and initial training. This covers custom coding for your specific needs, like linking shop floor sensors to ERP for real-time inventory. We're ROI-focused, so we often see payback in 3-6 months through reduced overtime and material savings— one client recouped costs by avoiding $15K in scrap alone. No hidden subscriptions; you own it outright. We start with a free consultation to scope your workflow and provide a precise quote, ensuring it aligns with your budget while delivering field-tested value.
Can the dashboard work on mobile for shop floor access?
Absolutely, we design responsive dashboards that shine on tablets and phones, perfect for foremen checking job status mid-weld or on the construction site. Imagine pulling up live machine feeds or inventory levels without huddling around a desktop. We optimize for quick loads, even in spotty shop Wi-Fi, using progressive web app tech for offline access to key KPIs. For fabrication specifics, this means instant views of run queues or quality scans from anywhere. We've built these for shops handling custom structural steel, where mobility helps coordinate with field teams. Setup includes user training to make it intuitive—no steep learning curve, just practical tools that fit your daily grind.
How do you ensure data security for sensitive fabrication blueprints?
Security is non-negotiable in fabrication, where IP like custom part designs can make or break competitiveness. We use end-to-end encryption for all data flows, with role-based permissions so only authorized users access blueprints or cost details. Integrations follow industry standards like SOC 2, and we conduct regular audits to protect against breaches. For example, when linking CAD files, we anonymize sensitive elements until verified access. Our systems are hosted on secure, scalable clouds with backups to prevent downtime during critical runs. Shops we've worked with, especially those supplying construction firms, appreciate how this setup complies with standards like ISO 9001 without slowing operations. It's peace of mind built in from the start.
What if our shop grows and needs to add new features later?
Our dashboards are built to evolve with your business, using modular architecture that lets us add features seamlessly—like new modules for robotic welding or expanded inventory for larger runs—without rebuilding everything. We've scaled solutions for shops doubling machine counts, integrating fresh IoT data in days. Post-launch, we offer optimization support at fixed rates, reviewing usage to suggest tweaks based on real metrics, such as adding AI forecasts for seasonal construction demands. You're not locked into a rigid system; it's a living tool owned by you, adapting as you add lines or tackle bigger projects. Clients often expand within the first year, seeing continued ROI as their fab operations grow.
Ready to Get Started?
Book your free consultation and discover how we can transform your business with AI.