KPI Catalog

A KPI catalog is a structured, centrally maintained list of key performance indicators (KPIs) used across an organization. It typically documents each KPI’s name, definition, calculation method, data sources, ownership, and usage rules so that performance is measured consistently across sites, systems, and teams.

What a KPI catalog includes

Although formats vary, a KPI catalog commonly contains for each KPI:

• Standard name and description so teams refer to the same metric in the same way.
• Category or domain, such as safety, quality, delivery, cost, maintenance, or compliance.
• Formula and units, including numerator, denominator, time base, and any filters or exclusions.
• Data sources, such as MES, ERP, LIMS, QMS, historian, or manual logs.
• Measurement frequency, for example real-time, shift, daily, weekly, or monthly.
• Process scope and applicability, such as which plants, product families, or lines the KPI covers.
• Roles and ownership, including a business owner and technical owner for the metric.
• Governance notes, such as approval date, version, and change history of the definition.

Use in industrial and regulated environments

In manufacturing and industrial operations, a KPI catalog is often used to align metrics between OT and IT systems, such as MES, ERP, and business intelligence tools. It helps ensure that:

• Sites use the same definitions for metrics like OEE, scrap rate, on-time delivery, and deviation closure time.
• Regulated processes have traceable, documented definitions for KPIs related to quality, safety, and compliance.
• Dashboards, reports, and performance reviews draw from a consistent set of metrics.
• New systems or integrations map their data to existing KPI definitions rather than inventing duplicates.

Operational role

Operationally, a KPI catalog may be managed as a controlled document, a database, or part of a performance management or analytics platform. Typical workflows include:

• Proposing new KPIs and reviewing them for clarity, relevance, and data availability.
• Approving and versioning KPI definitions when processes or data models change.
• Providing a reference for engineers, analysts, and system integrators when building reports or configuring MES/ERP interfaces.
• Supporting audits by showing how performance metrics are defined and maintained.

Common confusion

A KPI catalog is related to, but distinct from:

• KPI dashboard: A dashboard visualizes metrics in charts and tables. The KPI catalog defines what those metrics mean and how to calculate them.
• KPI library in a software tool: Some applications ship with a set of predefined metrics. A KPI catalog is typically an organization-wide reference that can include, extend, or override such built-in libraries.