How to Create a Dashboard in SAP Digital Manufacturing in 5 Steps?

Written by Concircle | Aug 11, 2025 4:07:36 PM

What is embedded SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC) in SAP DM?

Embedded SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC) in SAP Digital Manufacturing (SAP DM) refers to the built-in analytics capabilities within the SAP DM environment that leverage the power of SAC directly within the same user interface.

This integration allows users to create, view, and interact with advanced analytical dashboards and reports without needing to switch to a separate SAC system.

Key Features & Capabilities

Seamless Integration

Embedded directly within SAP DM.
No need for a separate SAC tenant.

Real-time Manufacturing Insights

Visualisize KPIs, machine performance, production output, and quality data.
Access real-time manufacturing data without replication.

Custom Dashboards

Use SAC tools (charts, tables, filters) to build interactive dashboards tailored for operators, supervisors, and engineers.
Access these dashboards from within the SAP DM Fiori launchpad.

Query Design Tool

Create queries over SAP DM datasets using the available Manufacturing Data Objects (MDO).

Role-Based Access

Dashboards can be tailored to specific user roles (e.g., line operator vs. production manager).

Benefits

Faster decision-making with live data from shopfloor

Customized views for roles: supervisors, quality leads, etc.

Easier troubleshooting with visualized trend

Reduces reporting overhead (no need for exports, spreadsheets)

Empowers citizen developers (e.g., process engineers or production leads) to build their own dashboards with little IT involvement

Typical Use Cases Using Embedded SAC and MDOs

Production Planning & Execution

Order Execution Tracking: Visualize the progress and status of production orders across work centers and resources
Routing and Operation Flow Visualization: Display the expected sequence of operations with standard processing times and the respective progress

Quality Management and Nonconformance

Defect and Nonconformance Analytics: Analyze defects by type, work center or time period; identify top recurring issues
SFC (Shop Floor Controls) Scrap and Rework Analysis: Monitor scrap trends and rework frequencies by SFC

OEE and Downtime Analytics

Equipment Downtime Tracking: Track machine downtime duration and reasons
Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE): Calculate and visualize OEE (Availability × Performance × Quality)

Labor & Certification

Labor Scheduling & Compliance: Monitor workforce schedules, actual working hours, and overtime.
Operator Certification Monitoring: Monitor and ensure workers are certified for tasks and following proper work instructions

Data Collection & Electronic Records

Process Parameter Monitoring: Analyze collected process parameters for quality and process control
Elektronic Signatur Audit: Track and verify sign-offs for critical operations

Assembly & Tool Usage

Assembly History Tracking: Trace component usage and assembly lineage for compliance and root cause analysis
Tool Utilization Analysis: Monitor how often tools are used and whether they meet usage thresholds

How to create a dashboard in SAP Digital Manufacturing in 5 steps?

Here’s a step-by-step guide to creating a dashboard in SAP Digital Manufacturing (SAP DM) using Embedded SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC). This process involves using Manufacturing Data Objects (MDOs), building queries, and visualizing them in a dashboard.

Step 1: Access the "Manage Dashboards" App

On the entry page of the “Manage Dashboards” app, you’ll find a list of all the stories that have been created. A story is a dashboard that gives meaning to your raw data, which you can structure by filtering for different criteria. You shoud select the option “Create” to create a new dashboard.

Step 2: Define Your Data Source (Query Design)

To visualize data, you first need to create a query with the desired MDOs. You can include several MDOs on the query. Aditionally you can apply filters or perform calculations with the desired MDOs.

Step 3: Preview Your Query and Save It

Make sure all needed information is available on the query. After that you need to finish the query, name the date source and save it.

Step 4: Build Your Story (Visualization)

Now you’re inside the SAP Analytics Cloud story designer. You have a blank page to build up your dashboard and be creative!

You can use different widgets like charts, tables, input controls; inset images, insert labels… Aditionally you can setup your Theme Prefrences to completely fit your brand image.

Below you have an exmaple of a story with 2 pages to follow up the production progress.

Step 5: Preview, Share, and Publish Your Story

Preview and test your dashboard. Once you are satisfied, you can publish it! You can also decide who will have access to your dashboard and the type of access. This give you full flexiblity to control the dashboard visibility.

Your dashboard is now created!

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