Martinrea
Real-time visibility for the factory floor
On the factory floor, it's important that teams share a live view of what's happening and that problems reach the right people fast. I built the design system, researched, tested, and designed the screens behind a real-time visibility platform.
Role
Product Designer
Industry
Manufacturing B2B
Tools
Figma, Claude, Linear
Year
2025 - Present
Problem
On the factory floor, every minute of downtime is costly and late deliveries carry penalties. That makes it important for teams to see what's happening as it happens, respond quickly, and learn from past issues so they don't repeat.
On a production line, every step depends on the one before it. Downtime happens when that chain slows: a machine stops, materials arrive late, a changeover runs long, or the right team isn’t reached in time. Because everything is connected, one small delay at a single cell can ripple down the whole line.
Research
Before designing anything, I worked a shift as an operator to see the environment firsthand. I also spoke with operators across multiple plants and with staff and managers across teams, mapped how work flows from start to shipment, and identified opportunities to improve how information is shared.
Here’s what I learned the platform needed.
Solution
The platform works like a nervous system for the factory. Machines and connected systems send it signals, and it turns them into a live, shared view, routes problems to the right team, and carries the full picture from one shift to the next. Every screen fits its setting, from large, glove-friendly controls on the floor to a clear overview in the office.
1. Late material or a stopped machine
The delay shows on the screen right away. If the cause is a slow robot delivery, it appears on the same screen, because connected systems all report into one view.
2. An operator triggers a call
It routes to the right team and the notifications are sent. If nobody responds, it gets escalated.
3. Once it’s fixed
The status updates on the board, and the event is saved to history so teams can see trends, learn from this and confirm the fix worked.
4. Changing Shifts
Current status and open issues are already on the board. The incoming shift sees them when they arrive, and the work continues without re-asking or copying anything down.
Design System
A connected factory needs every app to feel like one system. I built a design system from scratch with shared foundations and two modes: factory and desktop. This keeps every app consistent, from operator boards to leadership dashboards.
Desktop Mode
Desktop mode supports office teams who need detail and space to analyze data. It uses the brand’s vibrant accent color and a more open layout. Shared foundations mean components work seamlessly across both modes.
Factory Mode
Factory mode is designed for operators on the floor, where screens must be readable at a glance. Larger controls, clear feedback, and data charts support quick decisions. A neutral palette reserves color for alerts and data, making every colour stand out.
AI Workflow
I connected Claude to Figma through the MCP, and to Linear and our documentation app, so anything I build in Figma flows straight into documentation and Linear. The same workflow runs across all my projects, and I use it heavily for ideation, research documentation, and the component library.
Reflection
I learned that adoption is a design problem.