Data & analytics for manufacturing
Data and analytics that move planning off the spreadsheet pack
Most manufacturers are sitting on more data than they can use. Shop-floor systems, ERP, MES and quality all hold useful numbers, and almost none of it lands in front of planning or finance on time. A good data partner fixes that quietly.
Looking at the bigger picture across IT support, cyber, AI and digital transformation? See the full manufacturing technology overview.
Why it matters
Data & analytics in manufacturing earns its keep when it joins the business together
Production planning, OEE, scrap, on-time-in-full and finance reporting all depend on the same data being trusted across the business. When it isn't, the board ends up arguing about whose number is right rather than what to do next.
Data and analytics also sets the ceiling for everything that comes after - forecasting, predictive maintenance, planning copilots. Without a clean data layer, AI work stalls and reporting stays in spreadsheets.
What the work covers
What data and analytics looks like in a manufacturing business
Shop-floor data into a usable layer
Capture from PLCs, MES and quality systems into a data layer planners, finance and AI workloads can rely on.
ERP and finance reporting that agrees
One set of definitions for OEE, scrap, on-time-in-full and margin, signed off once and used everywhere.
Power BI built on clean foundations
Reports the board, ops and finance actually act on, with refresh and ownership thought through up front.
Forecasting and planning models
Demand, capacity and inventory models tied to live ERP and sales data, not last quarter's spreadsheet.
What needs to be in place
The foundations a manufacturing data partner expects to see
A data platform you can stand on
Microsoft Fabric, Snowflake or a similar platform, sized for the business and not over-engineered.
Governance and definitions agreed once
Owners, definitions and refresh cadence documented, so reporting stops being rewritten every year.
Microsoft 365 and identity tidy
Power BI workspaces, sharing and access tied to a clean Entra ID baseline.
Quality, not volume
Effort focused on the dozen reports the business actually runs on, before chasing every dashboard.
What good looks like
A partner who has done this in manufacturing before saves you the first year of learning
A manufacturing-aware data partner starts with the planning and finance conversations, not the platform. They'll pick a sensible stack, get OEE and on-time-in-full agreed, and turn the spreadsheet pack into Power BI the leadership team will actually open.
From there the same foundations carry forecasting, predictive maintenance and AI workloads. The next project is cheaper because the last one was done properly.
Outcomes you should expect
- One trusted version of OEE, scrap and on-time-in-full
- Power BI reporting board and ops act on
- A data foundation that AI work can actually use
- Forecasting and planning models tied to live ERP
Tell us about your ERP, your MES and what reporting the board sees today. We'll match you with a UK partner that has done this for manufacturers.
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