In the world of industrial manufacturing, MES systems are becoming increasingly indispensable. Thanks to their ability to monitor, manage and optimize production processes, these sophisticated information systems are increasing their penetration rate in companies, helping to Reduce low-value-added operations borne by operators by delegating them to automated tools.
But what are the real benefits of using an MES system in the enterprise? Let’s discover some of the most common ones, after recalling what is meant by the acronym MES and why these tools are convincing more and more companies.
What are MES Systems
MES stands for Manufacturing Execution System: these are computer applications and systems that enable the management, monitoring and optimization of a company’s production in an automated and integrated way. The MES is able to record and distribute data from the plant, providing real-time information on production processes and, especially, in contexts where digital transformation is already well underway, feed their data to other enterprise IT systems., for example, ERP, enriching the wealth of information available to companies for use in increasingly informed and data driven.
MES systems, with their ability to streamline production, improve automation, and generally facilitate the transition to the smart factory, convince more and more companies. Globally, we are talking about a market that was worth more than 15 billion by 2022 and estimated to grow to more than 42 billion in 2030. But how does the advantage of these solutions materialize in companies?
The role of MES in the enterprise
At the logical and organizational level, typically the MES system is located between the decision-making and production levels. One of the main utilities of MES is to act as a link and junction between company management and the various production departments, and to coordinate them in the case of complex, integrated supply chains or those with elements of redundancy. The linkage is not only at the organizational level, but also at the technological level. Typically, an MES centralizes collection and distribution of field data from devices such as SCADA and PLCs, converging them into the enterprise data source and allowing them to be analyzed to constantly optimize processes, both from a production and organizational perspective.
Advantages of MES Systems
The characteristic of MES software to pose as an interface between management and production paves the way for several notable improvements, which have their origin primarily inenabling data collection and use in production contexts as well. Let us look at the main ones in detail.
Traceability and data retention. MES systems enable the tracking and storage of all data related to a production process. This is particularly beneficial for companies in regulated industries such as pharmaceuticals, food, medical devices, aerospace, defense and biotechnology. All of these, in fact, must meet strict traceability criteria, which become significantly easier to comply with.
Real-time contingency management. With MES systems, companies are able to handle any unforeseen events in real time, exercising maximum quality control at all times.
Overall view of the production facility. With the use of an MES system, managers can have an overall view of the entire production plant, helping them avoid production and storage errors.
Improvement of product quality. MES systems constantly monitor production and manage any unforeseen events in real time, allowing product quality to be improved. In fact, thanks to the control exercised over production processes, errors can be prevented and compliance with quality requirements can be ensured.
Reduction of production costs. The use of an MES system can lead to a reduction in production costs, mainly due to its ability to optimize resource use, reduce waste and improve the efficiency of production processes.
Increased production efficiency. For the same reasons seen above, an enterprise MES makes it possible to identify bottlenecks in production processes and implement appropriate strategies to resolve them.
Reduction in paper support in departments. MES systems, especially when used in concert with corporate IT infrastructure, can significantly reduce the amount of paper material within production departments (paperless path).
Improved communication between business departments. One of the key advantages of MES systems on the factory floor is their ability to improve communication between different company departments. In fact, the MES system acts as a connection point between production departments and corporate management, facilitating information exchange and collaboration between different sectors of the company.
MES software, a tool for competitiveness
As we have seen, the use of MES Systems in business leads to a considerable number of benefits, including production optimization, quality control and traceability. These systems, when used effectively, can have a significant impact on a company’s efficiency and profitability. The adoption of an MES system is therefore a significant step for any manufacturing company on its path to becoming a data-driven enterprise.
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