With an overwhelming array of new technology choices, creating the right foundation requires investing in core systems that move your business in the right direction. You may be considering ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) software pieces and MES (Manufacturing Execution Systems). In addition to taking stock of your individual needs, it’s important to understand what each solution can do.
Key to a Successful System Foundation
The right solution should address the critical issues within your business and move you closer to your individual goals. This includes:
- Improving your chance of successful deployments by focusing on the specific functions that provide near-term, high-value benefits
- Minimizing disruption in multi-site implementations by establishing a center of excellence (COE) that includes all stakeholders, to provide enterprise-wide governance
- Planning the roadmap to roll in other production processes into the cloud, as technology matures
The Difference Between ERP and MES
What Can ERP Do?
- Tell you how much of which materials you need to complete an order, and when that order needs to leave your plant
- Help you collect production data
What Can a MES Do?
- Automate production orchestration through AI-based process control and Optimize maintenance protocols with intelligent asset monitoring & predictive maintenance solutions
- Connect supply chain to the factory floor with automatic order download and execution
MES Makes the Difference
A fully enabled MES will have a significant impact on all areas of your operation where execution issues often arise – machines, materials, methods and operators – and where the greatest ROI can be realized.
An MES bridges the gap between the business and manufacturing worlds, between factory leadership, engineering, line of business and supply chain.
An MES can answer these questions:
- What should I be making right now?
- What should I do next?
- Is this equipment clean?
- Which inventory should I use?
- Where is the production?
