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Free self-assessment

Manufacturing Finance Scorecard

Twelve quick questions to see whether your numbers are ready for growth, a bank request or a sale, and what to fix first.

Answer each statement

Takes about two minutes. Nothing you select leaves your browser.

1. Your books close within about 15 business days after month end.
2. Inventory and work in process on the books match what is actually on the floor.
3. You know your margin by product line or customer, not just in total.
4. Your shop rate or standard costs have been updated in the last 12 months.
5. You compare quoted cost with actual cost on closed jobs or orders.
6. You have a cash forecast, ideally 13 weeks, that is updated regularly.
7. You have an annual budget tied to the production plan and review actuals against it.
8. You review a short list of KPIs every month.
9. You know your loan covenants and could send your bank a full package this week.
10. Equipment and other big purchases are tested for payback and cash impact before you commit.
11. Someone besides you reviews the financials and asks hard questions.
12. Your CPA gets clean, reconciled books at year end without a scramble.
Your score– / 24
Answered0 of 12

Answer all 12 to see your result.

What the score means

  • 19–24, a strong foundation. Your numbers can support bigger decisions. The next gains usually come from pricing, scenario planning and capital decisions. See fractional CFO for manufacturers.
  • 12–18, real gaps. Reporting works, but costing, cash forecasting or planning has holes that cost margin or cause surprises. Start with the questions you answered "no" to.
  • 0–11, fix the foundation first. Strategy built on unreliable numbers doesn't hold. A reliable close, inventory that ties out and job costing come first. See outsourced controller.

This follows the order of our Manufacturing Profitability Framework: assess, clarify, plan, grow.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is this scorecard for?

Owners and leaders of established manufacturers, typically $3M to $30M in revenue, who want a quick read on whether their finance function can support growth, a bank request or a future sale.

How is the score calculated?

Each statement scores 2 points for yes, 1 for partly and 0 for no, for a total out of 24. The result groups your score into three bands and points to the areas to fix first.

Do you store my answers?

No. The scorecard runs in your browser and nothing you select is sent anywhere.

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