A system for optimizing manufacturing utilization is disclosed. The system includes a manufacturing apparatus configured to transmit a first electronic message type indicating a time period when the manufacturing apparatus is in use, as well as a sensor disposed in a work cell associated with the manufacturing apparatus, the sensor configured to transmit a second electronic message type indicating a time period of operator activity within the work cell. The system further includes a computing device configured to receive the first and second electronic message types and accumulate one or more of each of the respective time periods of the first and second electronic message types. The computing device determines utilization of the manufacturing apparatus based on accumulated time periods corresponding to the first electronic message type as a percentage of accumulated time periods corresponding to the second electronic message type.