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We recently ran a short series of articles (See parts One, Two and Three here) on Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) a key software solution essential in the Manufacturing world. We had some excellent feedback on the articles and realized that while prolific with sharing our thoughts on the warehouse and logistics space where equipment, process, and people are concerned, we never really spent much time talking about software solutions that help connect it all together and make it work. This week we are going to dive a little deeper in the topic and will offer more information during the coming year.

Here is Part I of a sampling of the basic software systems everyone should be aware of if you are looking to do more automation or in-process KPI tracking:

In this final part of the series, we conclude the look into the deeper levels of MES functionality that enables final production to work effectively. We then look at different types of MES and summarize the key aspects of MES to consider when starting out or when upgrading an existing basic MES to a system with the latest IIoT digitalized technology.

In the first article of this series, we saw how the top level of Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) work in the factory to deliver benefits against business goals and requirements, managing the flow of production for final products and sub-assemblies. Now it is time to delve into deeper levels of MES, looking at other areas within the factory that MES manages, that enable the final production flow to work smoothly and effectively.

Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) have been around for quite a while now, and there are hundreds of choices out there for MES solutions. As MES covers a very broad and often loose range of added-value topics, it is rare to find any two MES solutions that offer the same scope of functionality. This is especially true given the rapid progress of related IT technologies, for example, Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and initiatives such as the “Smart Factory”. It is therefore important to understand the principles and technologies behind MES so that it will work for your needs and requirements, rather than the other way around.