Why Digital Signage is a Big Part of the Factory of the Future Conversation

The “factory of the future” is both here and perpetually just out of reach—something to strive toward continuously.

Yet, if you look at the way productivity and performance are being managed today compared with just a couple of years ago, you have to admit today’s factory is looking pretty futuristic.

Take a look around your production floor. If you’re not seeing technology in place designed to maximize productivity, you might be a step or two behind your competition.

At Poppulo, we’ve worked with some of the top manufacturers in the business, and we know from over 15 years of experience that performance management is crucial to maintaining efficiency and productivity. We’ve helped some of the top manufacturers around the globe leverage digital signage to drive productivity.

Here’s a deeper look into how digital signage can meet the specific needs of the different stakeholders we’ve worked with within the manufacturing sector.

Visualizing Data to Drive Desired Actions

Every single production facility is unique and, therefore, has unique KPIs and success measures associated with the things being produced. That said, every facility can leverage digital signage to maximize output by integrating the key systems they have and displaying that data on screens throughout the facility.

Digital signage can provide you with comprehensive dashboards displaying KPIs, equipment status, and overall production metrics in real-time—what’s displayed depends on the actions you’re trying to drive"—Beau Biernacki, Account Executive, Poppulo

We’ve seen managers of manufacturing operations want every aspect of their manufacturing operation visualized, from real-time inventory and production metrics to machine maintenance schedules and even a series of digital signage applications that aren’t driven by integrations, like standard work screens and health and safety reminders.

So, not just one screen displaying one thing, but a series of digital signs, each one delivering the right information that an employee needs to the right line at the right time. We’ve helped improve wall walks and the shift change process, as well as ensure the work is on track after the shift change is complete. Every second your production floor is operational, it’s creating data that can be displayed to further streamline production.

This enhanced visibility helps in proactive decision-making. You can track daily production goals, identify delays in real-time, and ensure compliance with safety and quality standards. Beyond that, though, digital signage supports transparency, enabling you to communicate performance metrics effectively across teams and departments, fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

The Factory of the Future is a Journey, not a Destination

We often find ourselves in discussions with leaders of the “Factory of the Future” initiative, as well as those leading manufacturing technology, and we see a lot of commonalities in what challenges they are trying to solve.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, integrations are one of the key points they want to learn about—and it goes far beyond the standard integrations. It’s everything from manufacturing execution systems to PowerBI, Tableau, and more. These technology leaders know what their line and facility managers are trying to accomplish, and they are set on finding solutions that don’t simply solve one challenge, but rather can scale to solve multiple challenges over time.

Digital signage offers a platform to deploy and manage data analytics solutions efficiently and change those solutions over time as the “Factory of the Future” continues to evolve.

Advanced features such as predictive maintenance alerts, real-time analytics, interactive dashboards, and IoT device integration allow you to implement cutting-edge technologies seamlessly into the manufacturing process.

The beauty of how Poppulo approaches digital signage for manufacturing facilities is that it's future-proofed. The data you need to display today might not be what you need tomorrow, but the platform can ingest data from whatever source you need it to in the future, and that makes it the right long-term solution”—Jake Hughes, Sales Engineer, Poppulo

Getting LEAN to Continuously Improve

Interestingly, most of the people we talk to ahead of implementing digital signage all want similar outcomes, yet come to the table viewing things through different lenses to find the solution. And when they leave the table, everyone is on the same page. We see it happen all the time.

Typically, the “aha moment” comes when LEAN leaders or those running continuous improvement see that digital signage supports these initiatives by providing visibility into real-time performance metrics, progress towards LEAN goals, and areas needing immediate attention. This helps with any “Factory of the Future” initiatives and is in line with the needs of the production managers.

Production systems create an immense amount of data, and the trick is to leverage it so the frontline can make better, informed decisions in real-time.

Because digital signage can be tailored to display cycle time, defect rates, and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) alongside individual line metrics and can adapt to future needs, multiple stakeholders in manufacturing facilities see it as the solution to their main challenges.

A History of Success in Manufacturing

Talking about how digital signage impacts the manufacturing industry and showing it are two different things. One clear example of the benefits of digital signage in manufacturing facilities comes from Northrop Grumman. 

When Northrop Grumman embarked on a digital transformation project at its Space Park facility to enhance operational efficiency and communication on the factory floor, it turned to digital signage from Poppulo. The project aimed to empower floor managers and technicians with real-time, data-driven information. By integrating sensors and automating data aggregation, the team improved productivity and quality, ensuring stringent standards were met, resulting in:

• Digital signage expansion: The initial project’s success led to the continuous growth of Northrop’s digital signage network—today, the Space Park campus has 80 screens, and Poppulo powers hundreds of other screens across other Northrop facilities.
• Enhanced Communication: Real-time data access improved decision-making and responsiveness
• Improved Quality: Automation and data integration ensured higher quality standards

One of the primary goals of our digital signage project was to improve situational awareness through better communication, freeing up time for both floor managers and technicians. I’m happy to say we accomplished that”—Oscar Castillo, Factory Modernization & Digital Transformation Project Manager, Northrop Grumman

Conclusion

Digital signage is revolutionizing performance management in manufacturing facilities by providing real-time data visualization, enhancing communication, and improving employee engagement.

Tailored to meet the specific needs of managers, directors, technology leaders, and continuous improvement champions, digital signage shows tangible ROI through improved throughput, reduced churn, and enhanced operational efficiency.

Seeing the performance indicators move from red to green not only improves operational efficiency but also celebrates the hard work of the employees driving these results—and while that may seem simple on the surface, it’s what drives meaningful action on production floors”— Beau Biernacki.

By deploying digital signage, manufacturers can maintain a competitive edge and foster a culture of continuous improvement. The adaptability of digital signage to various roles within the organization ensures it remains a critical tool for modern manufacturing operations