SmartSights Solves It:
Practical Answers for Industrial Operations

Data Visualization & Insights

• What’s the most efficient way to turn SCADA data into actionable insights?

  With SmartSights, you can visualize SCADA data in real-time through dynamic dashboards. There's no code required—just connect your data, configure your views, and your team can see trends, performance issues, and anomalies instantly. It’s the fastest way to move from raw signals to strategic decisions.

• How can I reduce downtime using real-time production dashboards?

  SmartSights dashboards provide up-to-the-minute visibility into key metrics like equipment uptime, throughput, and process performance. Set thresholds and get alerts when conditions are out of spec so your team can act before downtime happens. Early warning = faster response.

• How do I monitor KPIs in real time without building a custom solution?

  With SmartSights, you can configure dashboards using a visual editor with no coding required. Choose your data sources, define your KPIs, and set how often they refresh. You get real-time updates pushed to your screen, tablets, or mobile device without writing custom software.

• What’s the fastest way to spot trends in machine performance data?

  Use SmartSights historical analysis tools and charts to compare current performance to past trends. You can slice the data by line, machine, shift, or product type helping you identify underperformance or wear patterns before they become problems.

• What is the best way to improve OEE tracking and reporting?

  SmartSights can calculate and display OEE in real time by pulling availability, performance, and quality data from your equipment or MES. You can track it by asset, line, or plant, and drill down into each component to find root causes of loss.

• What’s the easiest way to see all plant floor data in one place?

  SmartSights offers a single-pane-of-glass view by aggregating data from multiple sources—PLC, SCADA, MES, SQL, sensors—into role-based dashboards. Operators, engineers, and executives each get a tailored view of what matters most to them.

• How do I make sure different teams see only the data that matters to them?

  SmartSights supports user roles and access controls, so each person sees only data relevant to their function. You can tailor views and permissions to match responsibilities, ensuring clarity, security, and focus across your teams.

• How can I turn raw plant floor data into something people actually understand?

  By converting time-series data into graphs, tables, and interactive dashboards, SmartSights helps users “see” performance in context. It tells the story of what’s working, what’s not, and what to fix—without needing a data science degree.

Reporting & Compliance Automation

• How do I automate compliance reporting in regulated industrial environments?

  SmartSights automates compliance reporting by connecting directly to your existing plant floor data sources—like PLCs, HMIs, and databases—and transforming your data into structured, audit-ready reports. You can build reports once and schedule them to run automatically, ensuring consistency and reducing manual effort in FDA, ISO, and other regulated environments.

• What tools can I use to simplify industrial reporting from my plant floor?

  SmartSights helps contextualize your data from disparate sources and deliver it in clean, exportable formats. Whether you're reporting on energy use, emissions, or water consumption, SmartSights reduces the time and errors that come with manual compilation.

• How do I create automated shift reports for manufacturing operations?

  SmartSights lets you schedule reports to run at shift change, pulling together metrics like output, downtime, scrap rates, and operator notes. Reports can be auto-emailed to supervisors, made available in browser-based dashboards or via SmartSights mobile.

• What is the best replacement for manually maintained production reports?

  SmartSights replaces static, error-prone spreadsheets with live dashboards and automated reports. Instead of potentially outdated files, you create centralized views that are always up to date and accessible from anywhere, improving data accuracy and collaboration.

• Can SmartSights help with ISA or FDA audit preparation?

  Absolutely. SmartSights helps you log critical data automatically, store historical performance records, and retrieve audit trails on demand. You can produce consistent, validated records in minutes instead of hours, and demonstrate traceability with confidence.

• What are some ways to automate compliance in manufacturing?

  You can use SmartSights to automate line checks, digital logbooks, and batch tracking to satisfy USDA, EPA, and OSHA requirements. From food processors to pharmaceutical plants, SmartSights simplifies the path to staying compliant.

• Why does real-time data visibility matter in food and beverage compliance?

  In food and beverage production, delays in data can mean missed deviations, failed audits, or compromised product safety. Real-time visibility helps teams catch issues as they happen, not after. SmartSights enables this by connecting directly to your existing systems and surfacing key compliance data instantly, so nothing falls through the cracks before, during, or after production.

System Integration & Connectivity

• What is the best way to integrate SmartSights with existing PLC and MES systems?

  SmartSights is designed to work with your existing architecture. It connects to OPC, SQL, MQTT, and REST endpoints so whether your plant runs on Rockwell, Siemens, or a custom MES, SmartSights can collect and interpret your data with minimal setup.

• Can you connect legacy industrial systems to a modern dashboard?

  Yes. Many plants still rely on legacy PLCs, SCADA systems, and siloed databases but that doesn’t mean you have to stay stuck with limited visibility. SmartSights bridges the gap by connecting to a wide range of industrial protocols and data sources, transforming your data into a powerful, centralized dashboard that provides customizable views for all levels of your organization.

Alerts, Monitoring & Issue Response

• How do I get alerts before problems escalate on my plant floor?

  With customizable alert rules, SmartSights notifies the right people via email or SmartSights mobile when KPIs or system conditions fall outside acceptable ranges. You don’t need to monitor dashboards 24/7 because SmartSights does it for you.

• What are the best ways to get alerts for my industrial operations?

  The SmartSights WIN-911 alarm notification system can alert teams via SmartSights mobile, text, phone call, email, or as an announcement on your plant floor.

• What is the best way to manage issue tracking and resolution for my facility?

  By integrating Peer with WIN-911, SmartSights boosts operational efficiency across industries by enabling seamless issue management and real-time response through SCADA, MES, and ERP systems - helping teams act quickly to reduce downtime, improve performance and build a knowledge base for future use.

• How do systems know when something isn’t operating normally?

  SmartSights lets you set thresholds on data points such as temperature, pressure, or runtime. The system then constantly monitors those values and automatically alerts you by mobile app, email, text, or phone call if anything moves out of range. It’s a simple way to catch problems early and avoid unnecessary downtime.