In the IIoT era, manufacturing companies need factory IT solutions that keep them future-proof and competitive. A MES, acronym for Manufacturing Execution System, makes intelligent production a reality.
Lately, in the context of state incentives for Industry 4.0, there has been a lot of talk about this system. Let’s see exactly what a MES is and the advantages it offers to businesses.
What is a MES (Manufacturing Execution System)
A MES, or manufacturing execution system, is a dynamic and comprehensive software used to monitor, track and document the manufacturing process, from raw materials to finished products. Its goal is to optimize the production in automated and integrated.
These systems provide decision makers with the data they need to make the plant more efficient and optimize production, in an automated and integrated way. This ensures a functional level between enterprise resource planning (ERP) and process control systems, operationalization of line personnel, and visibility into departmental performance and production costs.
Each MES is based on three pillars:
- Establish a plan and meet deadlines.
- Application of a repeatable process.
- Creation of a dataset to allow for the resolution of inefficiencies.
Main benefits of an MES in manufacturing
Optimize production and reduce waste
First, a MES increases efficiency and productivity. In enterprises, delayed error detection is a major source of wasted time and resources. This, in fact, implies continuous interruptions and losses. Instead, MESs allow you to accurately analyze production lines and finished products. In this way, they detect inconsistencies and eliminate them, thus limiting the waste of materials and the number of defective parts.
Improve quality control
In addition to maximizing the use of resources and cutting scraps and waste, this type of software helps to increase production quality and customer satisfaction. Quality data is transmitted in real time, so companies with an MES can stop production immediately if something goes wrong.
It favors the digitization of production processes
One of the main advantages of MES is the competitive advantage it offers in an industrial IIoT context. The software allows the automatic and real-time acquisition of reliable data, in order to always be updated on the status of the machinery and on the progress of production orders. But not only that, it also allows you to standardize processes and speed up the decision-making process.
Better traceability of products
Today, product traceability is essential to guarantee their regulatory compliance. Also in this direction, an MES is of great help, as it follows the production cycle from start to finish and groups all final parts or lots with the corresponding production data.