Rustbelt
Analytics

Operational analytics for industrial and service companies

You know your business.
We help you see it more clearly.

RBA brings together records from the systems you already use to help explain changes in job economics, billing, labor, and purchasing.

Talk With Us See how it works
Ask a specific question Trace the relevant records Reconcile the math Show the evidence

Illustrative example · Synthetic data

Follow one question
through the records.

This is a simplified example of the method, not a client result and not a software demo.

01 / The question

Where did the job economics change?

Start with one completed flooring installation job and a practical question: why did it contribute less than expected?

Illustrative example · Synthetic data JOB 24-071
Completed job Westlake offices Flooring installation · 12,400 sq. ft.

Quote Records Result

01 / 06 Evidence before inference

02 / The records

Bring the relevant records together.

Quote, material, installation, other direct cost, and callback records converge around one job. Billing stays visible, but separate from the direct-cost calculation.

Illustrative example · Synthetic data JOB 24-071
01Quote + approved scope
02Materials
03Installation labor / cost
04Other direct costs
05Callback / service
06Billing / payments
JOB24-071One operating object
02 / 06 Evidence before inference

03 / Expected result

The quote set a $5,000 direct contribution.

The $12,000 revenue basis less $7,000 in quoted direct costs is the starting expectation—not a claim about net profit.

Illustrative example · Synthetic data JOB 24-071

Quoted economics

Revenue basis$12,000
Quoted direct costs$7,000
Direct contribution$5,000

$12,000 − $7,000 = $5,000

03 / 06 Evidence before inference

04 / Supported actual

The job produced $1,300 less direct contribution than quoted.

Supported actual direct costs were $8,300, leaving $3,700 in direct contribution on the same revenue basis.

Illustrative example · Synthetic data JOB 24-071

Supported actual

Revenue basis$12,000
Supported actual direct costs$8,300
Direct contribution$3,700
Difference from quote −$1,300
04 / 06 Evidence before inference

05 / Explain the difference

The change reconciles to the dollar.

Materials added $600, installation $400, other direct costs $100, and callback service $200. Total increase: $1,300. Unexplained: $0.

Illustrative example · Synthetic data JOB 24-071

Direct contribution bridge

$5,000Quoted
−$600Material
−$400Install
−$100Other
−$200Callback
$3,700Actual
Total increase in direct costs+$1,300
Unexplained$0
05 / 06 Evidence before inference

06 / Evidence

You should be able to see why.

Important results stay tied to the records and calculation behind them. Missing information stays missing. It is not quietly treated as zero.

Illustrative example · Synthetic data JOB 24-071

Supporting records

Supplier invoice · INV-8841 +$600

Additional adhesive and floor preparation material recorded to JOB 24-071.

$4,200 recorded − $3,600 quoted = +$600 Synthetic record · for illustration only
06 / 06 Evidence before inference
Illustrative example · Synthetic data JOB 24-071
Completed job Westlake offices Flooring installation · 12,400 sq. ft.

Quote Records Result

01 / 06 Evidence before inference

Questions, not feature lists

Questions RBA helps investigate

The work starts with a business question whose answer is scattered across operating records.

  1. 01Where did job costs outrun the quote?
  2. 02Are material increases reaching customer pricing?
  3. 03What completed work still needs billing review?
  4. 04Where did actual labor differ from the estimate?
  5. 05Which repeat jobs are becoming less economical?

Broader operating contexts

Close to the work.
Grounded in the records.

01

Manufacturing & specialty builds

Quoted versus recorded job economics across material, labor, and other direct costs.

02

Equipment dealers & industrial distribution

Purchasing, pricing, service, parts, and billing relationships around the work.

03

Field service

What was sold compared with the time and direct costs required to deliver it.

04

Installation businesses

Quotes, approved scope, material, installation cost, callbacks, and billing.

Explore operating contexts →

Start with the question

What are you trying to figure out?

You do not need a formal project plan. Tell us the question and what makes it difficult to answer today.

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