If you have been out of the loop, you might be wondering why manufacturing execution system (MES) is used by most businesses these days. Other production-related tools are already available, so why use MES? You are lucky because this article will discuss what MES can do that other software cannot. You will also learn here the benefits that it can bring to your company which are more than enough to make you running on your feet to find the best MES suited for your needs.
4 Basic Functions of MES That You Should Know vs ERP
Have you heard about enterprise resource planning (ERP)? Those who are not so familiar with the two have the tendency to confuse MES with ERP. This is not surprising as both are computer programs that were specifically designed to help enhance the business processes. However, the two have different functions on the ground. What does manufacturing execution system means will be clearer once you understand its basic role. Below are the primary functions of MES that differentiates it from ERP:
- It collects real-time data, like barcode scanning, that are essential in the daily operation of the factory floor or shop floor.
- It is able to organize and store necessary data in a centralized database of the system.
- As it can store the data, it can also make the said information accessible throughout the network. In addition to that, it also integrates other critical data from other systems such as accounting and planning.
- It is also capable of delivering and managing orders to production. The ERP is responsible for planning the orders, but the MES gives the final real-time analysis of the situation on the shop floor. It provides a detailed scheduling based on its analysis of the current situation.
The ERP software on the other hand also gathers data to put in the database and user interface where it could be accessed. It covers the different aspects of the business operation such as planning, manufacturing, development, and sales and marketing. It is almost the same with MES in this aspect except that it is not capable of scheduling. However, MES is more specific to the monitoring of activities at the shop floor; thus, it can provide the necessary information needed for a detailed scheduling.
As ERP is more concerned with planning, it cannot account the variations that happen on the factory floor. Meanwhile, the shop floor activities are the focus of MES. Learning about these will give you a better idea on how to use manufacturing execution system.
Below are some examples of shop floor changes that are monitored in real-time by MES:
- Labor absenteeism
- Machine breakdowns
- Quality problems
- Availability of transport
- Changing setup times
- Changing delivery dates
- Availability of quality resources
In addition to this, shop floor operations such as alternative parts list, alternative work plans, and even cleaning and maintenance times are also monitored. This way, the system is able to analyze all factors and affect how to shorten the business cycle. https://www.crowdreviews.com/best-manufacturing-execution-software can provide you with testimonials from real people regarding how MES helped them in their production lines.
Crucial MES Information That Will Enlighten You
Do not be confused if you hear other people pertain to MES as shop floor execution systems, data collection solutions, or manufacturing operations management (MOM), because these are other names for it. When you hear them say those, it also means that they are talking about MES. But what is manufacturing execution software?
According to Manufacturing Execution System Association International (MESA), MES is an effective tool in guiding, initiating, responding to, and reporting on the factory activities in real-time. It gathers and delivers the necessary information that will facilitate the optimization of production processes from the start to finish. It used to be a self-contained system, but it is now commonly being integrated with the ERP. The data provided by the ERP plus the shop floor monitoring of the MES can give a useful information that can help businesses improve their production.
5 Reasons Why MES is a Must for Your Business
A form of MES has long been observed by businesses even before the advent of the computer age. Before, hand-drawn charts and supervisors holding a clipboard walking through the shop floor checking the inventory levels serve as the MES before the technology age. This is a proof that MES is really beneficial to any business because it tracks the production process starting from the raw materials up to becoming a finished product. Accurate information is given by monitoring the processes in real-time – an information that will help the floor manager see how to react and act given the current condition for a maximum production output.
If the business owners before have seen the importance of monitoring and analyzing the activities at the shop floor, how much more with the help of MES where an extensive data analysis is made possible because of technology? Check the list below for the five reasons on why use manufacturing execution software:
- Save Your Company Unnecessary Expenses by Reducing Waste and Scrap
The manufacturing execution system for dummies will let you know that it is specifically designed to monitor the factory floor activities and its variations. It is capable of giving a precise analysis of the real-time conditions at the production lines and the product that they yield. As such, this system is designed to identify any inconsistencies on the lines. Any anomalies that it detected will prompt it to halt the production, thus limiting the production of bad products or bad parts. In this way, wasted materials are also minimized.
- Drastic Reduction in the Operation Costs of Your Business
Those who have tried using MES in their manufacturing experience would probably agree that it causes a dramatic reduction in the production cost of the company. How did it happen? One edge of using the help of technology in the production processes is the elimination of the paperwork because it eliminates the paper trail. Gone are the days of printing hundreds to thousands of pages of reports including the elimination of storage and the cost of boxing. This is one of the concrete examples of how manufacturing execution system works.
In addition to that, MES provides you the opportunity to get a better understanding of the production processes on the shop floor such as the time, material, and labor required to finish the job. Once you have a better grasp of these, streamlining of operations is possible. As a result, you can free up personnel from the controlling inventory and the production lines. The total costs that you could save from such benefits could reach to thousands of dollars, which is a great amount that could be used instead to help your business grow.
- Increase in Uptime and Decrease in Downtime
Machines have been part in the production process of any industry, and with the use of MES, it is possible to integrate scheduling and maintenance in the process. A specific job concerning a particular machine will not be scheduled unless data show that it is properly maintained and the right tooling is available. Reviews about manufacturing execution software are available at CrowdReviews.com to give you a better idea on how MES helped other business owners.
Moreover, MES tracks the raw materials that are ready and the parts inventory; thus, realistic production scheduling is accomplished. This results in a decrease in the downtime because no time is wasted in reconfiguring of schedules and the entire staff available is used effectively in the production process. You may read the feedbacks on a particular MES through this site https://www.crowdreviews.com/best-manufacturing-execution-software.
- Reduced Inventory to Save Time and Money
An MES is capable of providing a constant update of your inventory records. As a result, no inventory surplus will happen, and this means a lot because that surplus costs money. With the use of accurate data provided by MES, your record of scrap material, nonconforming product, new production, and shop-floor-related information are updated and are on track. Other departments such as shipping, purchasing, and scheduling are aware of the actual situation in the facility and could effectively use this information to make accurate orders.
- Provides a Holistic View for a Better Quality Control
A more streamlined reporting system and process management are possible with MES. This results in a better flexibility and visibility in the company through the help of the real-time data generated by MES. Instead of having a disparate view of quality in a particular production line, the MES provides you with necessary information that will help you have a holistic view and understanding of everything that happens on the factory floor.
An MES is more than just a tool for tracking the amount of product and the labor output that happens in the production lines. More than this, the use of MES is best appreciated with the efficiency it brings due to the accurate records of production, personnel time, and material usage that it provides. All these feats can be accomplished easily and precisely with the use of MES. If you are interested in the specific benefits brought about by the use of MES to other companies, you may read the reviews of manufacturing execution software published at CrowdReviews.com.
Trevor Price
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