In today’s competitive marketplace, manufacturers like you need to know how to improve efficiency to gain an advantage. Essentially, you need to make more with less—and a manufacturing execution system (MES) can help you do just that.
In technical terms, a manufacturing execution system is a system that connects and monitors machines and work centers on the factory floor. The main goal of an MES is to ensure successful implementation of manufacturing operations and improve production efficiency.
Think of it like this—if you’re launching a rocket, then the MES is like the mission control center. When the rocket launches, you’re tracking the altitude control system, power, propulsion, telemetry, and much more. By monitoring and tracking this information, you can make sure the rocket reaches orbit successfully, and you can find areas of improvement for the next rocket launch.
Still a little fuzzy on what a manufacturing execution system is? Fear not! By the end of this deep dive, you’ll have a much better understanding of what it can do and whether it’s a good fit for your business.
Like any piece of software, manufacturing execution systems come with a whole bunch of concepts and terms that help provide a better understanding of what they actually are. On the surface, they might seem like they have their own language, but it’s not that complicated. Here are some of the more common terms and concepts associated with them:
Per the MESA-11 model, standard manufacturing execution systems required 11 core functions. In the years since it was first published, MESA has revised the model to also span enterprise-level strategic initiatives, business operations, plant operations, and actual production. However, for our purposes, we’re going to focus on those original 11 core functions—that are still very much a part of today’s MES systems—and how they’re used to improve manufacturing efficiency.
MES systems and ERP systems play separate but complementary roles in manufacturing operations.
ERP systems integrate all facets of an enterprise into one comprehensive information system. For example, employees in planning and scheduling have access to the same data as the staff in financial management. All the data is also available in real time, which enables production managers to make faster, more informed business decisions.
Meanwhile, MES is the layer between your manufacturing shop floor systems—like machines and supervisory systems—and your business, planning, and logistics systems—basically, your ERP solution. MES and ERP integrate with each other to provide a single source of truth throughout your organization. ERP systems can show you that you might need to improve your production output—MES shows you how.
By now, you might be thinking to yourself, “Why doesn’t everyone have an MES?” There are plenty of benefits—including increased productivity, improved data capture, real-time visibility into your operations, an optimized workforce, and more.
An MES also provides materials traceability, which is invaluable for manufacturers that must adhere to strict regulations. Manufacturers in the food and beverage, medical device, aeronautics and aerospace, and defense industries require this traceability to ensure they are compliant with regulations.
However, manufacturing execution systems aren’t for everyone. Smaller manufacturers may find that their production operations aren’t large enough to justify an additional software system like an MES. Additionally, they may feel that their profit margins don’t allow for this type of investment. Like any piece of technology, you have to weigh your options and decide if an MES is worth it for your manufacturing enterprise.
The future of manufacturing execution systems is tied closely to the future of manufacturing itself. As Industry 4.0 and the Internet of Things (IoT) become commonplace, MES systems are allowing manufacturers to implement their factory of the future.
IoT sensors on the shop floor collect data and link machines. Greater access to better, more accurate information benefits manufacturing execution systems which then relay that information to you. As these technologies evolve and even more are integrated—like augmented reality (AR), artificial intelligence (AI), and smart machines—MES will play a greater role in managing your production operations. Like the conductor of an orchestra, manufacturing execution systems will lead the way while your factory runs itself.
