Systems and methods are provided for increasing employee productivity in a production process. One or more machines for accomplishing a production activity and in communication with a database which includes pay rates and predetermined thresholds for the production activity. Data acquiring devices associated with each machine measure production rates in substantially real time. A processor retrieves the pay rate and the production rate to determine a real-time-pay rate. A display provides a ranking and visualization reflecting each employee's real-time-pay and a graphic indicating whether each employee's real-time-pay rate exceeds one or more of the predetermined thresholds.