From Spreadsheets to Smart Fab Shop Software: Making the Shift
For years, many fabrication shops have relied on Excel spreadsheets to manage production schedules, track materials, and plan workflows. Excel is flexible and widely available. However, developers did not create it for the complex needs of modern prefabrication environments.
Today, smart shops are using dedicated fab shop software instead of spreadsheets to manage their operations. This software helps them work faster, be more accurate, and collaborate better with their teams.
If you are using spreadsheets for your MEP, Industrial, or Modular fab shop, think about switching. Here are some important reasons to make the change now.
1. Eliminate Manual Entry and Reduce Errors
Manual data entry in Excel introduces countless opportunities for errors. A single misplaced digit can throw off an entire production schedule or result in costly rework. Dedicated fab shop software automates data capture and workflow tracking to eliminate those risks.
With MSUITE, for example, teams can automatically track spool statuses, materials, and labor hours without ever opening a spreadsheet. This removes the burden of duplicate entry and reduces inconsistencies that affect downstream fabrication and installation.
2. Gain Real-Time Visibility Into Your Fab Shop
Spreadsheets are static. They require constant updates and manual sharing to reflect real-time progress. Dedicated fab shop software offers a live view into your entire operation—from spool release to delivery.
MSUITE FAB connects directly to your BIM models and production machines. It updates spool statuses and fabrication progress in real time. Foremen and managers can view the progress, completed tasks, and delays—all from a single dashboard.
3. Improve Collaboration Between BIM, FAB, and FIELD Teams
Excel can live on one computer or get buried in email threads. That leads to version control issues and broken communication between teams. Dedicated software creates a single source of truth that is accessible by all stakeholders.
MSUITE unites your BIM, FAB, and FIELD teams on one platform. Fabrication progress, model updates, and the jobsite needs stay in sync. No more sifting through multiple spreadsheets or sending screenshots to keep teams informed.
4. Fab Shop Software Helps You Track Labor Hours and Production Metrics Accurately
Spreadsheets lack automation and analytics, making it difficult to track performance or identify bottlenecks. Dedicated fab shop software helps you understand where your time and money are going.
With MSUITE, shop foremen can input actual hours worked, track shop throughput, and compare planned vs. actual performance. These metrics are essential for improving productivity and reducing labor waste.
5. Key Metrics Every Fabrication Business Should Track Automatically
One of the biggest benefits of fab shop software is that it can automatically track important metrics. This enables smarter decision-making and continuous improvement across your operations.
Examples of metrics you can track in MSUITE FAB include:
- Throughput: Understand how much material or how many spools are completed over time.
- Spooling Time: Analyze average time spent from spool generation to completion.
- Material Waste: Track scrap rates and identify opportunities to optimize cuts and reduce over-ordering.
- Labor Efficiency: Compare estimated vs. actual hours to monitor crew performance.
- Shop Utilization: Monitor machine usage and availability in real-time.
- Schedule Adherence: See how often your team meets internal or external deadlines.
These insights provide more than spreadsheets can. They help teams find inefficiencies, copy best practices, and boost profits.
6. Fab Shop Software Helps You Standardize Workflows and Scale With Confidence
Spreadsheets are hard to standardize across multiple teams or locations. As your shop scales, Excel becomes a liability. Dedicated software helps standardize processes, enforce best practices, and maintain consistency.
MSUITE enables fabrication managers to define workflows, assign tasks, and enforce shop standards. No matter if you run one shop or many, you get the consistency you need to grow effectively.
7. Automate Reporting for Stakeholders
Manual reporting eats up valuable time. With spreadsheets, compiling reports for managers, VDC managers, or operations executives can be a laborious, time-consuming process.
Fab shop software like MSUITE automates the reporting process with easy to use dashboards and downloadable reports. You get clean, accurate insights into shop productivity, schedule adherence, and material usage—without hours of data wrangling.
8. Integrate With Your Tech Stack
Excel can’t connect with your accounting, ERP, or BIM systems—but dedicated Fab Shop software can. MSUITE works smoothly with popular platforms like Autodesk, Procore, and PypeServer. It also connects with machines and hardware like TigerStop and RazorGage.
That means better coordination between departments and fewer data silos. You can track fabrication progress and sync it with project schedules and financials.
Ready to Ditch the Spreadsheet?
The fabrication industry is evolving fast. Material costs are rising.
Labor is scarce. Project schedules are tighter than ever. Relying on spreadsheets is a risk your fab shop can no longer afford to take.
Making the switch to dedicated fab shop software like MSUITE can help you:
- Reduce costly errors
- Boost productivity
- Improve cross-team communication
- Standardize your processes
- Drive real-time visibility and accountability
Start building a smarter fab shop operation today.
Request a demo to see how MSUITE FAB can transform your shop workflows.
