InetSoft Offers a BI Solution That Can Be Easily Deployed and Used

InetSoft offers a BI Solution for dashboards, analysis, and reporting that is easy, agile, and robust. InetSoft's flagship product, StyleBI, includes highly interactive and visually compelling HTML5-based interfaces and a sophisticated charting engine for multi-dimensional visual analysis, scorecards, and KPI dashboards.  

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How a Custom Manufacturer of Welded and Valve Assemblies Leverages InetSoft's Open-Source StyleBI for BI Dashboards and Analytics

Many manufacturers struggle with siloed data, manual reporting, and delayed analytics, leading to inefficiencies. However, forward-thinking companies are turning to Business Intelligence (BI) solutions to transform raw data into actionable insights. One such solution is InetSoft's open-source StyleBI, a powerful yet flexible BI platform that enables manufacturers to create dynamic dashboards and analytics without heavy IT dependency.

In this article, we'll explore how a custom manufacturer of welded and valve assemblies successfully implemented StyleBI to streamline operations, improve decision-making, and gain a competitive edge.

Challenges in Custom Manufacturing of Welded and Valve Assemblies

Before adopting a BI solution, this manufacturer faced several key challenges:

1. Manual Data Collection & Reporting
   • Reliance on Excel spreadsheets and paper-based logs led to errors and delays.
   • Lack of real-time visibility into production metrics.
2. Siloed Data Across Departments
   • ERP, MES, and supply chain systems operated independently, making cross-functional analysis difficult.
3. Quality Control & Defect Tracking
   • Difficulty in identifying trends in weld defects or valve failures without advanced analytics.
4. Supply Chain & Inventory Inefficiencies
   • Poor demand forecasting led to overstocking or shortages of critical components.
5. Lack of Self-Service Analytics
   • IT teams were overwhelmed with ad-hoc reporting requests, slowing down decision cycles.

To overcome these challenges, the company sought a scalable, open-source BI solution that could integrate with existing systems while allowing business users to create their own dashboards.

Why InetSoft's StyleBI?

After evaluating multiple BI tools, the manufacturer chose InetSoft's StyleBI for several reasons:

1. Open-Source Flexibility

• Unlike proprietary BI tools, StyleBI's open-source model allowed customization to fit unique manufacturing workflows.

• No vendor lock-in, reducing long-term costs.

2. Seamless Data Integration

• Native connectors for ERP (SAP, Oracle), MES systems, SQL databases, and IoT sensors.

• Ability to blend data from multiple sources for unified reporting.

3. Self-Service BI Capabilities

• Drag-and-drop dashboard builder enabled non-technical users (e.g., production managers, quality engineers) to create their own reports.

• Reduced dependency on IT for routine analytics.

4. Real-Time Analytics & Alerts

• Live monitoring of welding parameters (heat, pressure, speed) to prevent defects.

• Automated alerts for inventory shortages or machine downtime.

5. Cost-Effective Scalability

• Lower total cost of ownership compared to enterprise BI solutions like Tableau or Power BI.

• Cloud or on-prem deployment options.

Implementation: How StyleBI Transformed Operations

The manufacturer deployed StyleBI in phases, starting with critical pain points:

Phase 1: Production Monitoring & Efficiency Dashboards

• Connected to IoT-enabled welding machines to capture real-time performance data.

• Created OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) dashboards to track machine uptime, performance, and quality rates.

• Identified bottlenecks in production lines, leading to a 15% increase in throughput.

Phase 2: Quality Control & Defect Analytics

• Integrated automated vision inspection systems with StyleBI to log weld defects.

• Used predictive analytics to flag recurring defects before they caused major delays.

• Reduced scrap rates by 20% by catching issues early.

Phase 3: Supply Chain & Inventory Optimization

• Combined ERP and supplier data into a single dashboard for procurement teams.

• Implemented AI-driven demand forecasting to optimize raw material orders.

• Cut excess inventory costs by 30% while avoiding stockouts.

Phase 4: Executive & Shop Floor Dashboards

• Role-based dashboards for executives (KPIs), engineers (machine stats), and operators (daily targets).

• Mobile-friendly views allowed real-time decision-making on the shop floor.

Key Benefits Achieved

By leveraging StyleBI, the manufacturer realized significant improvements:

Lessons Learned & Best Practices

For other manufacturers considering StyleBI, here are key takeaways:

1. Start Small, Scale Fast
   • Begin with a high-impact use case (e.g., OEE tracking) before expanding.
2. Train Power Users Early
   • Empower production supervisors and engineers to build their own dashboards.
3. Integrate IoT & Automation Data
   • Real-time machine analytics provide the most immediate ROI.
4. Monitor & Iterate
   • Continuously refine dashboards based on user feedback.