To optimize production and meet the challenges of an increasingly competitive market, Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) are now an established solution. MES systems provide real-time data on equipment status, work in progress and quality control. However, within a manufacturing ecosystem, MES is only one part of the puzzle. To get the most out of MES software, in production and beyond, it is important to integrate it with other enterprise digital assets. This includes, for example, ERP, SCADA and PLM systems.
MES systems play an important role in linking manufacturing software with digital control tools such as ERP and CRM. By integrating these systems, manufacturers can streamline their operations and improve efficiency.
MES systems offer a number of benefits for manufacturers, including the ability to track processing data in real time, schedule production based on customer demand and optimize resources. However, many of these opportunities require MES systems to be integrated into an orchestrated ecosystem in which data flows easily between departments and between digital infrastructures. Only then, in fact, can advanced analytics and artificial intelligence tools be leveraged to the benefit of manufacturing. ERP and CRM integration can provide manufacturers with a complete view of their operations, from customer orders to production data. This level of visibility can help manufacturers optimize their processes and better meet customer demands.
Integration between MES, ERP and CRM: how it happens and its benefits
Integration between the MES, ERP and CRM systems, which in some ways form the foundational triptych of the enterprise digital infrastructure, is critical to the efficient operation of any manufacturing company. If these three pillars work in concert, organizations can manage their manufacturing processes more effectively and optimize their resources. There are several ways in which MES, ERP and CRM systems can be integrated, and the most effective approach will vary depending on the specific needs of the organization. In general, however, integration between MES, ERP and CRM systems can be achieved through a combination of data sharing, process automation and business intelligence tools.
Data sharing is the most basic form of integration between MES, ERP, and CRM systems.
By converging all data into a single source of trust, companies can ensure that information is available where it is needed, but more importantly secure an asset that is already critical today and will become increasingly essential in the future: a data historian to draw on for analysis, whether real-time or more traditional.
Reasoning about data automatically leads us to business intelligence tools: today, analysis of a company’s performance and KPIs can be done using advanced tools, the operation of which depends strictly on the quality of the data in the system. If they are consistent, it is also possible to generate advanced correlations, for example between production and customer satisfaction levels.
Process automation is another fundamentally important issue, which in this case mainly concerns ERP and MES. Thanks to today’s management systems, it is possible, for example, to schedule or even start production on the basis of orders and material availability automatically, without the waiting times typically introduced by internal corporate bureaucracy: it will be sufficient to set up the necessary approvals and communications directly in the information system, in digital form.
How to achieve integration between MES and ERP/CRM
Integration between MES and ERP/CRM can be a challenge for any company. However, there are some common practices that can help us, at least in principle, to build an outline that can inform strategy development.
First, it is important to have a clear understanding of the needs of each system. What information does each need to function properly? Once the needs have been analyzed, at least the basic ones, the next step is to determine how the two systems can share information seamlessly.
One way to facilitate this integration is to use middleware, which acts as a bridge between the two systems. This software can provide many benefits, such as data translation and real-time updates. In the SAP field, a similar role is played by SAP MII, a product that deals precisely with managing integrations between production departments and the rest of the infrastructure. This will make it possible to align the entire digital supply chain into a consistent form of communication.
Another key factor for successful integration is communication. It is not enough, in fact, that data are available; it is essential that they are actually used. For this reason, it is advisable to foresee their areas of application early in the design phase.
The other possible integrations: MES with SCM and SRM
In the SAP field, Manufacturing Execution (ME) is a software application that can be integrated with all other software in the ecosystem to create a complete manufacturing solution. Staying in the SAP field, the most common integrations are with SAP Supply Chain Management (SCM) and Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) applications. Of course, through interconnect solutions it is possible to integrate this MES system into any context, regardless of the other vendors involved.
SAP’s MES application can be used to manage all aspects of the manufacturing process, from materials requirements planning and inventory management to production scheduling and quality control. Integration with SCM provides a complete picture of the supply chain, from raw materials to finished goods, while integration with SRM gives manufacturers visibility into supplier performance and quality.
These two integrations provide manufacturers with a complete view of their operations, from customer demand to supplier performance.
The importance of ESM integration
In conclusion, it is important to integrate MES with other enterprise digital resources in order to streamline workflows, optimize resources, and improve communication within the organization. In this way, manufacturers can increase operational efficiency, reduce production costs and improve product quality.
Contact us to receive more information regarding the management and monitoring of all stages of your company’s production process, analyze workflows and thus improve performance and competitiveness.
