An automated method and system that uses a Web service to make real-time production status available to customers from a manufacturing environment. Each time Work in Process (WIP) data is updated from manufacturing execution systems to a central database, a database trigger checks the alert conditions. These conditions are automatically compared to the WIP data to see if the user-defined conditions have been met. If so, a function is called which automatically sends an alert to the customer via the internet and either e-mail, pager, or mobile phone.