A method of operating a molding system comprising the following steps executable by a controller of the molding system : appreciating a plurality of operational parameters associated with the molding system , wherein the operational parameters include cavitation, uptime, cycle time, energy consumption, and part weight; based on the plurality of operational parameters, generating a machine performance index, the machine performance index being a single value representative of the plurality of operational parameters and being instrumental in enabling an operator of the molding system to appreciate an economic productivity factor associated therewith; calculating a normalized performance index by comparing said machine performance index to a target performance index; causing the normalized machine performance index to be displayed on an interface of the controller ; the method further comprising: the operator appreciating the overall performance of the molding system from the normalized performance index ; the operator determining that the normalized performance index is not indictive of an acceptable performance level and entering the controller into a troubleshooting mode; the controller causing, in response to receiving an affirmative action from an operator, an interface of the controller to display a performance index break down indicator , the performance index break down indicator showing a respective performance indicator associated with at least some of the plurality of operational parameters; the operator appreciating the information presented by the performance index break down indicator ; and the operator performing, in response to the appreciation of the information, at least one of: manually adjusting one or more operational parameters of the molding system ; changing one or more components of the molding system ; and executing an automatic troubleshooting routine within the molding system . appreciating a plurality of operational parameters associated with the molding system , wherein the operational parameters include cavitation, uptime, cycle time, energy consumption, and part weight; based on the plurality of operational parameters, generating a machine performance index, the machine performance index being a single value representative of the plurality of operational parameters and being instrumental in enabling an operator of the molding system to appreciate an economic productivity factor associated therewith; calculating a normalized performance index by comparing said machine performance index to a target performance index; causing the normalized machine performance index to be displayed on an interface of the controller ; the operator appreciating the overall performance of the molding system from the normalized performance index ; the operator determining that the normalized performance index is not indictive of an acceptable performance level and entering the controller into a troubleshooting mode; the controller causing, in response to receiving an affirmative action from an operator, an interface of the controller to display a performance index break down indicator , the performance index break down indicator showing a respective performance indicator associated with at least some of the plurality of operational parameters; the operator appreciating the information presented by the performance index break down indicator ; and the operator performing, in response to the appreciation of the information, at least one of: manually adjusting one or more operational parameters of the molding system ; changing one or more components of the molding system ; and executing an automatic troubleshooting routine within the molding system . manually adjusting one or more operational parameters of the molding system ; changing one or more components of the molding system ; and executing an automatic troubleshooting routine within the molding system . <EOS>