MAG OptiAI

Results and outputs How-To

How to read KPIs, charts, and tables

Learn how to understand your results after a run. This guide helps you read KPI cards, interpret charts, and review tables so you can understand performance, spot patterns, and decide what to do next.

Read stepsAll How-To Guides

Guide details

Audience

Product users

Time

4 minutes

Category

Results and outputs

What this guide covers

Learn how to understand your results after a run. This guide helps you read KPI cards, interpret charts, and review tables so you can understand performance, spot patterns, and decide what to do next.

Start with KPI cards

Understand what each metric means

Use charts to spot trends and patterns

Inspect tables for detailed records

Connect KPIs, charts, and tables together

Decide what to review or do next

Results how-to

Read evidence from summary to detail

Start with KPI cards, use charts to understand patterns, inspect tables for exact records, and connect all three views to interpret the output before deciding what to do next.

KPI cards

Start with metric names, values, units, and direction.

Charts

Look for timing, utilization, demand, distribution, or risk patterns.

Tables

Inspect exact rows, assignments, scores, stops, forecasts, and extracted fields.

Connected reading

Use all three views together before deciding what changed.

Do not judge the result from one metric alone. Connect KPI movement with chart patterns and table detail before acting.

Step by step

Follow the task path

Each step gives you the action, the reason it matters, and the visual state to look for before continuing.

1

Step 1

Start with KPI cards

KPI cardsFirst read

KPI cards give you a quick summary of how your run performed and help you begin interpreting the result.

Why it matters

KPI cards are the first place to start after a run. They help you quickly understand the outcome, spot what looks strong or concerning, and prepare for better, data-informed decisions.

What you need to know

What it is

A KPI is a summary metric that represents performance in one important area, such as tardiness, makespan, utilization, cost, or service level.

What it tells you

It gives you a quick answer to questions like: How did this run perform? Where does the result look strong? Where might it need attention?

How it helps

It helps you quickly identify the overall outcome and decide which part of the result deserves a closer look.

What insight to take

Read the metric name, review the value, and interpret it based on what that KPI measures and what your operational goal is.

What you still need for a decision

Do not rely on KPI cards alone. Use the related charts and tables to confirm the story behind the numbers before taking action.

2

Step 2

Read charts to understand patterns

ChartsPatterns

Charts help you understand the visual patterns behind the KPI numbers. Use them to spot trends, timing, distribution, utilization, or other important movement.

What is a chart?

A chart is a visual view of the result. It helps you see patterns, distributions, changes, or comparisons that may not be clear from KPI cards alone.

What does it tell you?

Charts help you understand where the result is coming from. They help you spot trends, peaks, gaps, concentration, imbalances, and unusual behavior across time, resources, jobs, routes, or categories.

How does it help you?

Charts help you move from "what is the number?" to "why might the number look this way?" They guide you to the areas that need deeper review.

How should you read it?

Start by reading the chart title, labels, axes, and categories. Then look for patterns such as peaks, gaps, concentration, imbalances, or unusual values.

What else do you need before deciding?

A chart helps you understand the pattern, but it does not give you the exact details. Review the related table to confirm the exact records behind the pattern before taking action.

Use charts to understand the pattern behind the KPI numbers and identify the areas that need deeper investigation.

3

Step 3

Inspect tables for exact details

TablesExact records

Tables help you review the detailed records behind KPIs and charts. Use them when you need exact rows, assignments, scores, stops, extracted values, or forecast records.

What is a table?

A table is a detailed view of the result. It shows the exact records behind the summary numbers and visual patterns.

What does it tell you?

It tells you which specific jobs, operations, machines, routes, records, or outputs are contributing to the result.

How does it help you?

It helps you verify the reason behind a KPI or chart pattern instead of relying only on the high-level view.

How should you read it?

Start by reading the column names, then review the rows related to the KPI or chart pattern you are investigating.

What do you need before deciding?

Use the table to confirm the exact details behind the result. Then connect it back to the KPI and chart before making a decision.

Tables give you the evidence behind the result. Use them to confirm the exact details before deciding what to do next.

4

Step 4

Connect KPIs, charts, and tables

Connect evidenceDecision

After reviewing the KPI cards, charts, and tables, connect them together before taking action. One number alone rarely tells the full result story.

Example: Connect the full result story

Makespan

168 hrs

Total Tardiness

495

Avg. Utilization

61.1%

Total Cost

$12,540

B) Gantt chart (scheduling pattern)

Gantt chart used as the scheduling pattern evidence.

C) Tables (exact details)

Result tables used as the detailed evidence.

KPI cards answer

What happened?

High-level result

Gantt chart answers

Where is the pattern?

Visual insight

Tables answer

What are the exact details?

Detailed evidence

Together, they help you decide

What should we review, adjust, or accept next?

Decision support

Use all three views together to understand the result completely and take confident action.

Tips

Do not judge the result from one metric alone.
Metric direction can differ by product.
Use table detail before acting on a surprising KPI.

Related links

How to review resultsHow to use What-if AnalysisHow to use AI Compare

Related how-to guides

Continue with nearby tasks in the same category.

How to review results

Review your results after a completed run. Learn how to confirm that a result is available, start from the main result view, use tabs, review run context, and decide what to do next.

Open guide

Next

Keep moving through MAG OptiAI resources

Return to the full how-to library or step back to the resource hub when you want a different kind of guide.

All How-To GuidesBack to Resources