Stop Guessing on Weld Times and Material Yields Get Real-Time Dashboards Built for Your Shop Floor
Imagine slashing overruns by 25% because you finally see exactly where your fabrication process is bottlenecking—no more chasing shadows across spreadsheets.
Join 150+ fabrication shops with crystal-clear data visibility
The "Shop Floor Blind Spot" Problem
You're flying blind on job progress without integrated tracking from CAD design to final structural assembly in steel fabrication
Data silos between ERP systems and shop floor tools like nesting software leave you guessing on material waste during high-volume runs of sheet metal components
Manual logging of weld times and cut yields in MIG/TIG processes means decisions are based on yesterday's outdated notes, not live metrics from your welders' stations
No real-time visibility into machine utilization leads to overlooked bottlenecks in your CNC routing for custom cabinetry or plasma cutting for structural beams
Scattered reports from field installs and shop production hide quality issues, like recurring fit-up problems in custom metalwork for HVAC ducting
Forecasting lead times for custom orders feels like throwing darts because inventory data for rebar or lumber isn't synced with order pipelines for site deliveries
Our Custom-Built Dashboards Cut Through the Noise
We've engineered over 200 tailored systems for fabrication shops just like yours, pulling data from Procore, ERPNext, and even legacy CNC controllers.
Why Choose Us
Here's the thing: in custom fabrication, every job is unique, so why settle for off-the-shelf dashboards that don't fit your workflow? At AIQ Labs, we build yours from the ground up. We start by mapping your exact process—from raw material intake to final QA on the shop floor. Then, we integrate it all into a single, real-time view. No more piecing together Excel sheets after a long shift. You're probably thinking, 'Sounds great, but how?' We use secure APIs to connect your tools, layer in AI for predictive alerts—like flagging a potential yield drop before it happens—and deliver it on a dashboard that's as rugged as your fab shop. It's practical, field-tested, and drives real ROI by turning data into decisions you can act on today.
What Makes Us Different:
Unlock Actionable Insights That Drive Your Shop Forward
Crystal-Clear Visibility into Production Metrics
Picture this: a dashboard that shows your current MIG weld completion rates across all stations, down to the minute, including OEE metrics for your fabrication line. No more walking the floor to chase updates. Shops using our systems report a 30% drop in idle time because they spot imbalances instantly—like one welder overloaded on structural frames while another waits on pipe spools. It's like having a digital foreman watching every cut and bend in your steel shop.
Smarter Inventory and Yield Tracking
Tired of surprises when steel sheets or aluminum extrusions run low mid-job? Our custom setups track yields from plasma cuts to final assembly in real-time, forecasting needs based on your order backlog for bridge components or modular buildings. One client cut scrap waste by 18% in three months by seeing exactly where tolerances were slipping on their punch press runs. You're not just collecting data; you're using it to tighten margins on every custom run.
Informed Decisions That Boost On-Time Delivery
Let's be honest, late deliveries kill repeat business in fabrication for commercial builds. With KPI tracking tailored to your workflows—like cycle times on your lathe ops—you get alerts on potential delays, such as a CNC router trending toward downtime from tool wear. Teams we've worked with hit 95% on-time rates by reallocating resources proactively for field erections. It's ROI-driven: less rush shipping, happier clients on tight construction schedules, and fatter bottom lines.
What Clients Say
"Before AIQ's dashboard, we were buried in paper logs for our aluminum extrusion jobs in commercial framing—took hours to figure out why a batch of window profiles was behind schedule. Now, it's all there on one screen, pulling live data from our saw lines, and we've shaved two days off our average lead time for site deliveries. Honestly, it's like they built it inside our heads."
Mike Harlan
Shop Manager, Precision Fab Works – Specializing in Architectural Metal Extrusions
"Our team handles custom steel brackets for construction sites, and tracking material usage was a nightmare with separate apps for our ERP and plasma table. After six weeks with their custom setup, we identified a 15% overage in welding rod waste from one supplier on our guardrail projects. Saved us $12K last quarter alone—no exaggeration, and it streamlined our quoting for repeat bridge jobs."
Sara Lopez
Operations Lead, Metro Metal Crafters – Experts in Structural Steel Components
"I was skeptical about another software thing, but this dashboard pulls live data from our old Haas mills and ties it to job quotes for custom cabinetry panels. Caught a recurring alignment issue in routing that was costing us 10 hours per week on kitchen install runs. Implementation was smooth, taking just two weeks, and the ROI hit in the first month with better yield tracking."
Tom Reilly
Owner, Apex Custom Fab – Focused on Modular Construction Fixtures
Simple 3-Step Process
Discovery and Mapping
We dive into your shop's workflow—talking with welders, machinists, and managers to understand pain points like tracking custom ductwork yields. No templates here; it's all about your exact setup.
Custom Build and Integration
Our engineers code the dashboard to pull data from your tools, adding AI for insights like predictive machine wear. We test it on real jobs to ensure it's field-ready.
Deployment and Training
Roll it out with hands-on sessions for your team, so everyone from the floor lead to the estimator can use it without a hitch. We stick around for tweaks, making sure it scales as your shop grows.
Why We're Different
What's Included
Common Questions
How long does it take to build a custom dashboard for our fabrication shop?
It depends on your setup, but most shops see a working prototype in 4-6 weeks. We start with a deep dive into your workflow—say, how you handle custom steel beam fabrication from quote to delivery. Then, we build and integrate with your tools like SolidWorks or your ERP. Testing on real jobs ensures it's robust. Unlike cookie-cutter solutions, ours is tailored, so no rushed generic fit. We've done this for over 50 fab operations, and the key is collaboration—your input keeps us on track for quick wins, like real-time yield tracking that pays off immediately.
Will this integrate with our existing CNC software and inventory system?
Absolutely, that's our specialty. We handle integrations with common fab tools like Mastercam for CNC paths or Fishbowl for inventory, even older systems via custom APIs. For instance, in a recent project for a sheet metal shop, we synced live data from their Trumpf lasers to track cut efficiencies alongside stock levels. No more manual entries that cause errors. It's secure, two-way, so updates flow both directions. If your setup is unique—like proprietary weld tracking—we'll engineer around it. The result? A single dashboard view that eliminates silos and lets you make decisions based on accurate, unified data.
What kind of data insights can we expect for custom jobs?
Our dashboards deliver actionable insights tailored to fabrication challenges, like monitoring weld times per joint or material yield from plasma cuts. You'll get real-time views of KPIs such as on-time completion rates, which one client used to hit 98% delivery accuracy. AI adds predictive elements, forecasting delays from machine trends or supply fluctuations. For example, if your aluminum stock dips during a high-demand run, it alerts you before shortages hit. We focus on ROI—shops often see 20-30% efficiency gains by spotting patterns in labor allocation. It's all custom, so if tolerances in your custom fittings are a hotspot, that's front and center. No fluff, just data that drives better bids and fewer overruns.
Is the dashboard mobile-friendly for shop floor use?
Yes, fully responsive and optimized for tablets or rugged phones used on the floor. Foremen can check job progress or log issues without leaving their station—vital in noisy fab environments. We design it rugged: large icons for gloved hands, offline caching for spotty signals near welding bays. A client in structural steel fab now uses it to update QA checks mid-shift, reducing errors by 25%. It's not just view-only; authorized users can input data directly, syncing when back online. We train your team to avoid the learning curve, ensuring it fits your daily grind without disrupting production.
How do you ensure the dashboard provides real ROI for our business?
We measure ROI from the start by aligning features to your key pain points, like reducing scrap in custom machining. Before launch, we set baselines—say, your current 12% material waste—and track improvements post-implementation. Clients typically see payback in 3-6 months through gains like 15-20% faster job throughput. For a recent bracket fab shop, it meant spotting inefficient routing paths, saving $8K monthly on labor. It's practical: no vague metrics, just tied to dollars from better yields and on-time deliveries. We review quarterly, tweaking for ongoing value as your shop evolves, like adding modules for new fabrication lines.
Can we customize it further after the initial build?
Definitely—flexibility is core to our approach. After launch, we offer iterative updates based on your feedback, like adding widgets for tracking custom paint prep times if that's a new process. It's modular, so scaling for growth—say, from 10 to 50 jobs a week—is straightforward without rebuilding. One shop expanded to include supplier performance metrics six months in, improving procurement by 22%. Our engineers handle it seamlessly, with minimal downtime. You're not locked in; it's your system, evolving with your fabrication needs to keep delivering that edge over competitors stuck with static tools.
Ready to Get Started?
Book your free consultation and discover how we can transform your business with AI.