A hot melt adhesive dispensing unit includes an adhesive supply for receiving solid or semi-solid hot melt adhesive material, an adhesive supply heater associated with the adhesive supply for melting the solid or semi-solid hot melt adhesive material into a liquid hot melt adhesive material, a manifold connected to the adhesive supply, a pump connected to the manifold for pumping the liquid hot melt adhesive from the adhesive supply into the manifold, a controller connected to the adhesive supply heater and the pump, and a user interface connected to the controller. The user interface is for providing information about and control over heating and pumping functions of the hot melt adhesive dispensing unit, and the controller controls the adhesive supply heater and the pump.