MES operates across multiple function areas, for example, management of product definitions across the product life-cycle, resource scheduling, order execution and dispatch, production analysis and downtime management for Overall Equipment Effectiveness(OEE), Product Quality, Track and Trace.
MES creates the 'as-built' record, capturing the data, processes and outcomes of the manufacturing process and maintaining the system of record. This can be especially important in regulated industries, such as food and beverage or pharmaceutical, where the documentation and proof of processes, events and actions may be required.
The idea of MES might be seen as an intermediate step between, an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, and a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) or process control system, although historically, exact boundaries have fluctuated. Our MES solution is targeted at the Plant Operations layer in manufacturing systems, providing flexible methods of interacting with the ERP system and the plant equipment. According to ISA-95 models, plant operations comprise Production Operations, Inventory Operations, Quality Operations and Maintenance (or Engineering) Operations. In each of these areas, our MES Product suite has modules that provide the necessary functionality.
MES is the factory floor execution system. It is the layer in which the operators directly interact to step through the execution of the work flow to produce or repair product. The list of work to be performed, specific instructions to execute the work, data points to be collected, quality inspections of the work, sign off’s indicating the work is complete, are all performed within this layer.
MES provides the workflow, visibility and event notification required to ensure that manufacturing is meeting enterprise information demands. Simultaneously MES reduces non value-add activities, increases data accuracy and provides the ERP system with real-time data needed to maximize enterprise processing, planning and scheduling activities.
MES system acts as a messenger between the factory floor, corporate engineering (PLM), and corporate planners / schedulers (ERP). When operator requires data from the ERP or PLM: initiates the request within MES; the MES system then connects to the appropriate system to retrieve and display the information.