← Back to Blog

How to Set Up a Production Floor Display (Kiosk Mode for Manufacturing)

One of the simplest and most impactful changes you can make to a workshop is putting a screen on the wall that shows what's happening in production right now. Not a static schedule printed on Monday. A live, automatically-updating display of every active job and its current status.

This is what kiosk mode is for in production software: turning a TV, monitor, or tablet into a dedicated production floor display that anyone can glance at and immediately understand the state of work.

Why Floor Displays Change Workshop Culture

When production data is visible to everyone, two things happen.

First, workers become self-directing. Instead of waiting for a manager to tell them what to do next, they can look at the board and see which workstation needs attention. If CNC cutting is backed up and assembly is empty, it's visible to the entire team.

Second, accountability becomes shared and natural. When everyone can see that a job has been sitting in the painting queue for three days, the conversation about why happens organically. It's not a manager pointing a finger; it's a visible fact that the team addresses together.

Hardware: Keep It Simple

You don't need specialised equipment. Any TV or monitor with a web browser will work. A 40–55 inch TV is the sweet spot for most workshops: large enough to read from across the room, affordable enough that you won't agonise over dust and workshop conditions.

For mounting, a simple wall bracket is usually enough. Mount it high enough that it's visible over equipment but still readable. Position it near the centre of the production floor or at a natural gathering point like the coffee area or entrance.

For the actual display device, the cheapest approach is to use the smart TV's built-in browser. If that's unreliable (some are), a small device like an Amazon Fire Stick, a Chromecast with a browser app, or a Raspberry Pi is more than sufficient. The display only needs to show a web page and refresh periodically.

Configuration Tips

Most production display systems let you choose which view to show: all active jobs, a specific department, or a custom kanban layout. Start with a view that shows the three or four workstations that matter most to your daily flow.

Choose a dark theme if your workshop has bright lighting (better contrast and readability), or a light theme for dimmer environments. Set the auto-refresh interval to match the pace of your operations. For fast-moving jobs (cycle times under an hour), refresh every 2–5 minutes. For slower work (multi-day jobs), every 15–30 minutes is enough.

Consider whether the display should be interactive. A view-only screen is simpler and works well as a passive information radiator. An interactive kiosk where workers can tap to update progress is more powerful but requires a touchscreen and thoughtful placement (somewhere workers naturally pass by).

The PIN Authentication Model

If your display is interactive, you need a fast way for workers to identify themselves. The most practical approach is a numeric PIN. Each worker gets a short personal code. They walk up to the kiosk, enter their PIN, and they can log progress, start a time tracker, or add a note. No email login, no password, no friction.

This matters because the biggest risk with any production tracking system is adoption. If logging progress takes more than 10 seconds, people will stop doing it. A four-digit PIN and two taps to log a completed operation is the right level of simplicity for a workshop environment.

Measuring the Value

After a month with a floor display, look at how often you need to walk the floor to check on job status (it should drop significantly). Look at how quickly customer inquiries get answered. And ask your team: do they feel like they have better visibility into what's happening? The answer is almost always yes.