Manufacturing Execution System

Manufacturing execution system (MES) describes a set of integrated functions within a packaged software system or it can also describe the accumulated functionality within the production management infrastructure of a manufacturing or production company. The production management infrastructure or manufacturing execution system is inclusive of all manual or computerized off-line or on-line transaction processing systems used to accomplish production. The term means many different things within different user companies and even within the companies that produce and implement these systems. MES systems exist with or without technology but the term is evolving to generally describe the accumulated integrated electronic systems technology and processes used to manage the real-time aspects of production facilities.
Further explanation and description of manufacturing execution systems can be found at MESA International www.mesa.org or Applying Manufacturing Execution Systems by Michael McClellan, St Lucie Press, 1997.
A Manufacturing Execution System (MES) is a system that companies can use to measure and control critical production activities. Some of the benefits with regards to MES solutions are increased traceability, productivity, and quality. Other functions served by MES solutions may include equipment tracking, product genealogy, labor tracking, inventory management, costing, electronic signature capture, defect and resolution monitoring, Key Performance Indicator monitoring and alarming, Executive Dashboards and other various reporting solutions.
It is important to note that the term MES is held very loosely across different manufacturing industries (semiconductor, process, food and beverage, etc.).
MES has many parts and can be deployed on various scales. From simple WIP tracking to a complex solution integrated throughout an enterprise monitoring and controlling all resources used in the manufacturing process from cradle to grave and touching other enterprise systems like Enterprise Resource and Planning Systems (ERPs), Product Lifecycle Management (PLMs), Supervisory, Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) solutions, Scheduling and Planning Systems (both long-term and short-term tactical).

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