One more acronym to add to your list! Let's discuss the manufacturing execution software (MES) used to track, control, and optimize production processes. It's a hot topic in factories, so it's high time you became an expert on the subject.
We'll cover what it is, its history, how it works, its benefits, and why to use it. Let's dive in!
MES Software, Definition
The acronym MES stands for Manufacturing Execution System:
✔️ Manufacturing: refers to the process of transforming raw materials into finished products using specific machines and processes.
✔️ Execution: refers to the carrying out of tasks, that is, the practical realization of activities that have been planned or ordered.
✔️ System: refers to a set of interconnected elements working together to achieve a common goal. In the case of MES, this involves using information technologies to connect different aspects of production and production management.
It's a set of computer systems that collect and analyze production data in real time from machines, equipment, and people in the production workshop.
The origin of MES: a central pillar of production operations
MES originated at the heart of the factory, at the core of operations. Operators and managers all wonder:
👉 How to track production progress?
👉 How to measure performance?
👉 Are safety and product compliance guidelines being followed?
👉 Is traceability reliable?
👉 Are there anomalies during production?
👉 How to follow and adhere to a production schedule?
👉 How can operator observations be integrated to optimize production as much as possible?
👉 How to improve the company's responsiveness and agility?
These questions are often still addressed using internal tools like very complex Excel spreadsheets or specific tools created especially for the company. These last ones sometimes resemble an MES but their readability, reliability, and especially their sustainability do not always guarantee the relevance of the information delivered.
MES was born from the desire to associate different data, consolidating the information received to obtain a real-time global view of production.
The benefits of MES
If you hadn't already understood, equipping yourself with an MES comes with many advantages that are hard to find in a homemade system. Here are a few:
✅ Continuous Improvement (Lean Management): With real-time data, you can detect the strengths and weaknesses of your processes and continually develop strategies tailored to your needs. Thus, you will always have information to analyze to understand the flaws of your new systems.
✅ Improve Product Quality: By monitoring production processes and identifying quality issues early on, you can eliminate errors and thus improve product quality.
✅ Reduce Costs: By monitoring machines it's possible to anticipate breakdowns and thus avoid them. This limits downtime allowing more production.
✅ Increase Flexibility: With real-time monitoring, decision-making is faster, making it possible to better adapt to market demand changes.
✅ Digitize Your Processes: Say goodbye to manual data entry, potential human errors, and delays. You will have all the information gathered digitally and accessible in real time.
✅ Global and Centralized Vision: MES enables a smooth exchange of information within the company. A global and transparent view will then be possible.
There are many more advantages, but these key points give you an insight into the rapid and concrete gains a production tracking tool can bring.
And KEYPROD in all this?
KEYPROD goes beyond a simple MES by offering real-time, fully digitalized production monitoring to boost your company's efficiency and productivity. What sets KEYPROD apart from other solutions on the market is its Plug & Play simplicity! You can install the solution yourself easily and quickly, without disrupting your production.
Our non-invasive solutions allow you to collect key performance indicators on your machines. Just equip one of our IoT devices, which then capture machine vibrations and translate them into KPIs on our ultra-modern and accessible digital platform. And that's it!
You instantly have live tracking of your machines, as well as an interface for your operators, which allows obtaining field data with one click. You will be able to easily understand and analyze the causes of your machine stops to optimize their use and produce more efficiently.
KEYPROD simplifies your data reading and allows you to make quick and concrete operational decisions.
