Manufacturing Execution System (MES)

A manufacturing execution system is software that manages and records production on the shop floor in real time, connecting business planning systems such as ERP with machines and operators to dispatch work, track materials and capture quality and performance data.

An MES sits between enterprise systems and automation. It receives production orders from ERP, schedules and dispatches them to work centres, provides electronic work instructions, records material consumption and genealogy, captures process and quality data, tracks labour and equipment status, and reports completed production back to the business level. In the ISA-95 model, standardised internationally as IEC 62264, these functions belong to manufacturing operations management at level 3, above level 2 control systems such as PLCs and SCADA.

MES is used in discrete, batch and continuous manufacturing to provide a real-time view of work in progress, enforce correct procedures, reduce paperwork and support traceability and compliance. Regulated industries such as pharmaceuticals and medical devices rely on electronic batch or device history records, and automotive and electronics plants use MES for serialisation, interlocking of process steps and OEE reporting. MESA International has published widely used models of MES functions.

MES projects require clear process definitions, reliable master data and integration with ERP, machines and quality systems, and they often take longer than expected. Systems may be commercial packages, industry-specific solutions or in-house developments, and modular and cloud-hosted options are increasingly common. Network connections between MES and control systems should follow industrial security practice such as the IEC 62443 series.

Key points

Manages and records shop-floor production in real time.
Sits at ISA-95 level 3 between ERP and control systems.
Covers dispatching, work instructions, genealogy, quality and performance data.
Integration and master data quality are the main project challenges.

Where AiVibe comes in

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Manufacturing Execution System (MES)

Key points

Where AiVibe comes in

Related terms

Terms that refer to Manufacturing Execution System (MES)