Stop Losing Hours Chasing Weld Imperfections and Production Delays Track Every KPI in Real-Time with Custom Dashboards
Imagine slashing your scrap rates by 25% and boosting on-time deliveries to 95% – without the headache of scattered spreadsheets.
Join 150+ businesses with crystal-clear production insights
The "Data Silo" Problem
Scattered shop floor data from CNC machines and robotic welders leading to unplanned downtime on fabrication lines
Manual tracking of weld quality metrics using calipers and visual inspections causing high scrap rates in structural steel components
Delayed inventory updates for rebar and sheet metal triggering material shortages mid-job on site builds
Inaccurate cycle time logs for press brake operations and assembly sequences inflating labor costs on custom structural orders
Fragmented supplier performance data for steel coil deliveries risking late arrivals on precast concrete pours
Oversight in equipment utilization metrics for forklifts and overhead cranes leading to premature breakdowns during peak fabrication shifts
Build Visibility into Your Metal Fab Operations
We've engineered KPI platforms for over a dozen fabrication shops, turning raw data into field-tested decisions that drive ROI.
Why Choose Us
Here's the thing: in metal fabrication, you're juggling CNC machines, welders, and tight deadlines. Flying blind with data silos means one missed defect or stockout can tank your margins. At AIQ Labs, we craft custom dashboards that pull from your ERP, shop floor sensors, and quality logs into one unified view. No more piecing together reports at shift end. Let's be honest, this isn't off-the-shelf software – it's a tailored system built to scale with your growing orders, giving you real-time insights on yield rates, throughput, and more. You're probably thinking, 'Will it handle our custom jobs?' Absolutely, because we design it around your workflows.
What Makes Us Different:
Unlock Informed Decisions That Scale
Real-Time Yield and Scrap Monitoring
Real-Time Yield and Scrap Monitoring: Track every plasma cut, laser weld, and bend live via integrated sensors, reducing waste by up to 30% in the first quarter – like having a vigilant inspector spotting porosity or cracks in welds before they hit the scrap bin, ensuring your steel sheets and aluminum extrusions turn into profit, not landfill.
Production Throughput Optimization
Production Throughput Optimization: Monitor cycle times across your assembly lines and CNC routing stations to identify slowdowns instantly, boosting output by 20% on high-volume runs within two months – think of it as fine-tuning your press brake and milling machines for peak efficiency without guesswork, keeping custom fabrication on schedule.
Inventory and Supplier KPI Tracking
Inventory and Supplier KPI Tracking: Get instant alerts on stock levels for fasteners and lumber alongside vendor delays in steel deliveries, preventing job halts and cutting holding costs by 15% over six months – it's like a digital supply chain foreman keeping your raw materials flowing smoothly to avoid those frantic last-minute orders during bridge or building projects.
What Clients Say
"Before AIQ's dashboard, we were guessing on scrap causes from inconsistent MIG welds – lost about 12% of our stainless steel material monthly. Now, with real-time weld metrics and defect alerts, we've dropped that to under 5% in just three months, and our welders actually pull it up on tablets right at the booth."
Mike Harlan
Operations Manager, SteelForge Fabrications Inc., specializing in heavy structural steel for commercial buildings
"Our old spreadsheets couldn't keep up with custom orders for HVAC ductwork. This KPI platform flags bottlenecks early, like when a CNC plasma cutter queue builds up, saving us 10 hours a week in overtime. It's straightforward and scales with our expansion into aerospace-grade aluminum parts for aircraft hangars."
Sara Lopez
Production Director, Metro Metal Works LLC, focused on custom sheet metal for industrial construction
"We integrated it with our ERP last quarter for tracking galvanized pipe suppliers, and delivery scores are now visible at a glance. Cut late jobs by 40% on pipeline installations, no more chasing vendors blindly. The mobile view is a game-changer for our remote site managers overseeing modular building assemblies."
Tom Reilly
Plant Supervisor, Apex Precision Metals Corp., experts in piping systems for infrastructure projects
Simple 3-Step Process
Discovery and Mapping
We dive into your fab shop's workflows, identifying key KPIs like OEE and defect rates to map out a dashboard tailored to your daily grind.
Custom Build and Integration
Our engineers code the platform from scratch, linking your machines and systems for seamless, real-time data without the fragility of no-code hacks.
Testing and Launch
We test on your actual production lines, train your team, and launch with ongoing tweaks to ensure it grows as your fab operations expand.
Why We're Different
What's Included
Common Questions
How does this KPI platform integrate with our existing ERP like JobBOSS?
We start by auditing your current setup – think ERP, quality software, even shop floor sensors. Then, our team builds deep, two-way API connections that pull data like job statuses and material usage in real time. No clunky imports; it's seamless. For a typical metal fab shop, this means your dashboard updates every few minutes with weld counts or inventory levels, eliminating manual entry errors. We've done this for shops running JobBOSS, Epicor, and more, ensuring it fits your workflow without disrupting production. Setup takes 4-6 weeks, and we provide full training so your team hits the ground running. The result? Decisions based on live data, not yesterday's spreadsheets.
Can the dashboard handle custom fabrication jobs with varying specs?
Absolutely – custom jobs are the heart of metal fab, and we design the platform around that variability. You define KPIs per job type, like tighter tolerances for aerospace parts versus structural steel. Our system tags data accordingly, tracking unique metrics such as bend accuracy or surface finish ratings. It's flexible: add new KPIs for a one-off project without rebuilding everything. We've helped shops manage everything from prototype runs to high-volume brackets, reducing quote-to-delivery times by spotting inefficiencies early. Let's be honest, off-the-shelf tools choke on this; our custom build scales with your diversity, keeping you agile in a competitive market.
What kind of security does it have for sensitive fab data?
Security is non-negotiable in manufacturing, especially with proprietary designs. We use enterprise-grade encryption for data in transit and at rest, plus role-based access so only authorized eyes see client specs or cost data. Compliance? Built-in for ISO 9001, with audit trails logging every KPI view or edit. For metal fab specifics, we secure integrations with your CAD files and prevent unauthorized machine overrides. Our platforms have powered shops in defense contracting without a hitch. You're probably thinking about breaches – we conduct regular pentests and offer SOC 2 alignment. It's peace of mind, letting you focus on fabrication, not firewalls.
How much does a custom KPI dashboard cost for our size shop?
Costs vary by complexity, but for a mid-sized fab shop with 50-200 employees, expect $25K-$60K for a full build, depending on integrations like ERP or IoT sensors. This includes discovery, custom coding, testing, and three months of support. Here's the ROI angle: shops typically see payback in 6-9 months through waste reductions and faster cycles – one client cut overtime by 15%, saving $40K yearly. We avoid subscription models; it's a one-time build for ownership. No hidden fees – we quote transparently after a free consult, tailoring to your needs like tracking plasma cutter efficiency. Think of it as investing in a tool that pays for itself by sharpening your operations.
Is training included, and how user-friendly is it for shop floor staff?
Yes, hands-on training is baked in – we spend a full week on-site (or virtual) walking your team through it, from foremen checking yield rates on tablets to managers reviewing trends. It's designed for the shop floor: intuitive visuals like color-coded gauges for machine uptime, no steep learning curve. We've trained welders who aren't tech-savvy, and they pick it up in hours because we mimic familiar tools like digital gauges. Post-launch, we offer ongoing sessions and a quick-reference guide. The goal? Empower your crew to use it without pulling them off the line, turning data into daily wins like quicker defect fixes.
How does it scale if we add new production lines or acquire another fab shop?
Built to grow – our architecture uses modular components, so adding a new laser cutter or merging data from an acquired shop is straightforward. We design with enterprise scalability in mind, handling increased data volume without performance dips. For example, if you double output, the cloud backend auto-scales, and we can extend dashboards to multi-site views. One client expanded from one to three facilities seamlessly, unifying KPIs across locations for better resource allocation. No rip-and-replace; it's evolutionary. We monitor post-launch and optimize as needed, ensuring it supports your ambitions without the headaches of outgrowing legacy systems.
Ready to Get Started?
Book your free consultation and discover how we can transform your business with AI.