The very short definition: A manufacturing execution system (MES) is an information-based system designed to follow the processing of raw materials into finished products.
The in-depth answer: MES uses computers and software to monitor raw materials in real-time as they are purchased, gathered, transported, stored, and produced. The goal of MES is to provide manufacturers a clear overview of how materials, ranging from consumables to equipment, are used on a plant floor through every step of production. They also ensure procedures are in accordance with international regulations such as ISA-95 standard*.
These standards include offer:
A comprehensive MES can connect information from multiple manufacturing plants with vendor and supplier updates. Decision makers can then get performance metrics in real-time to better adjust production based on factors such as scrap and rework.
Further, you can get details on both labor and equipment being used within your manufacturing facility. An MES solution can show which machines are most reliable, or which workers have the necessary labor skills for certain processing tasks, all vital information for making more informed decisions on the factory floor.
*/Set by the International Society of Automation, ANSI/ISA-95 is the result of merging MESA-11 with the Purdue Reference Model.
MES offers many benefits to manufacturers, including:
Together, these benefits provide improved business performance from the initial acquisition of materials to the final customer interaction. With a single MES in control of the shop floor, you can make instant adjustments in the face of unexpected downtime or changing delivery dates.
In order to provide these benefits, the key functionality of MES systems can be categorized into the key areas of data collection, forecasting, and traceability, though the Manufacturing Enterprise Solutions Association International (MESA) has 11 core functionalities. The main manufacturing process modules used for each are:
Sometimes known as manufacturing operations management (MOM), MES can be integrated via software APIs or as part of a larger software system, particularly product lifecycle management (PLM) and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. And that's certainly not all:
Some standalone MES are dependent on other types of manufacturing software to function effectively. Along with ERP and PLM, the main applications which can be connected to manufacturing execution systems include:
The question is whether buyers are better suited to purchase an ERP which includes MES as one component of a larger suite of business management modules, or whether MES should be purchased as a separate program and connected to existing systems.
Whether you purchase MES as a standalone software will largely depend on what legacy systems you have and what additional functionality your business needs. For instance, not all ERP systems are suited for industry-specific manufacturing, which can make them inadequate for your business.
An MES platform simply refers to the full-scale software which streamlines raw material production processes for a company through a central hub. Data can be shared between multiple users and locations in real-time through a Cloud-based platform as part of a smart manufacturing system.
In some circumstances, a MES platform may combine both manufacturing software and factory floor hardware which are compatible, which may also refer to a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition system (SCADA).
Looking for MES software for your production facility? Start your search today.