Why Metrics Matter in Shelter Service Operations in Mexico
For CEOs and decision-makers investing in manufacturing in Mexico, understanding the value and performance of their shelter service operations is critical. Shelter partners like Prodensa don’t just manage logistics and compliance. They deliver actionable business intelligence that helps optimize cost, quality, and delivery.
Luis Hernandez, Sr. Managing Director at Prodensa and manufacturing operations coach, stresses that the central question CEOs should ask is:
How competitive is my Mexican operation?
Tracking the right metrics offers a data-driven way to answer this.
Core Metrics for CEO's Managing Maquiladoras
- Total Landed Cost: a full-spectrum metric combining production, labor, overhead, shipping, tariffs, and inefficiencies like scrap or rework.
- On-Time Delivery: tracks punctuality and reliability to ensure service-level agreements are met.
- Quality Metrics: scrap rates, customer returns, and rework volumes help CEO's assess alignment with customer expectations.
- USMCA Compliance: tracking SKU and part number compliance, ensuring documentation and rules of origin requirements are met.
- Cash Flow and P&L: CEO's need real-time visibility into financial performance, including burdened labor cost per hour.
- Operational Compliance: focusing on risk mitigation, a number of compliance indicators for the shelter service operation should be tracked.
Operational Compliance: the Balanced Scorecard (BSC)
In shelter service operations, Prodensa tracks a wide array of indicators aimed at providing necessary visibility and decision-making power for both local leaders and foreign business owners.
Hector Soto, IT Director at Prodensa, leads the development of custom PowerBI dashboards that give CEO's real-time decision-making support. In building custom dashboards for decision-making, Hector starts with the following question:
What business decision or objective is this dashboard meant to support?
Here are the primary indicators reported for Prodensa's Mexican shelter operations.
Financial Perspective
- Operating margin per unit produced
- Labor cost per hour (fully burdened)
- Material cost variance
- VAT Certification documentation & compliance
- VAT balances, refunds, penalties
- SAT, IMSS, INFONAVIT Positive Opinion
- Supplier SAT compliance status
- Scrap and rework cost as % of production value
- Budget vs. Actuals (monthly/quarterly/annual)
- Financial Audits
Trade Compliance & Risk Perspective
- Electronic record-keeping
- Annex 24 & 31 status
- Next expiration Material
- Raw materials & BOM
- Pending pedimentos
- Penalties, fees, balances
Human Capital & Organizational Perspective
- Turnover & absenteeism rates
- Time-to-fill for vacancies
- Training completion rates
- Employee satisfaction scores
- Workplace accidents
- Environmental audits
Market Metrics for Strategic Decision-Making
Here are other strategic metrics and economic indicators that can compliment the operational data on your Mexican shelter service operation:
- Labor Cost Benchmarks: compare internal and regional competitiveness reduce turnover and improve employee satisfaction, two essential factors in managing the cost structure and stability of Mexican shelter operations.
- Exchange Rate Trends: monitor currency fluctuations to forecast the real cost of imports, labor, and services. A favorable exchange rate can enhance margins or investment capacity, while volatility requires hedging strategies.
- Tariffs and Trade Scenarios: stay current on duties that affect raw materials, finished goods, and even indirect suppliers. Changes in U.S. trade policy or updates to the USMCA can significantly influence the total landed cost and supply chain decisions.
- CPI & Commodity Prices: track inflation and raw material costs (e.g., steel, resins, packaging) to adjust pricing, budgets, and supplier contracts. These directly impact cost forecasts and profitability in maquiladora operations.
- Market Intelligence: analyze sector-specific benchmarks—such as North American automotive production volumes, electronics consumption, or aerospace investment flows—to align your capacity planning with broader demand cycles.
- Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) Trends: understand where capital is flowing by industry and region in Mexico. High investment volumes in certain states or sectors may signal competitive pressure or opportunity.
- Real Estate Absorption: monitor industrial real estate absorption rates to assess demand for manufacturing space in key Mexican regions, to detect how increased competition may affect your operation.
- IMMEX Data: benchmark your own Mexican operation against other export-oriented manufacturers to measure your operational efficiency.
The Power of Visibility in Shelter Service Operations in Mexico
By partnering with a provider like Prodensa, manufacturers gain more than operational support. They gain a strategic ally that delivers shelter services in Mexico with full transparency. CEOs benefit from data-driven insights, helping them make decisions on investment, scaling, or optimization with confidence.
To explore how Prodensa can tailor dashboards to your operations, reach out to one of our advisors to begin discussing your data needs.