The implementation of MES can assist manufacturers in utilising capabilities they were unaware they have and in more effectively allocating resources that have the potential to increase efficiency.
Manufacturing execution systems (MES) have developed into a crucial tool for producers in a world where margins are continuing to contract and capacity must be utilised as efficiently as feasible. Here, we examine the process makers’ future.
These days, being a manufacturer is difficult. Margin continues to contract, laws are becoming more stringent, and a substantial skills gap is emerging. Demanding better, more obvious data is one of the numerous difficulties the sector faces, yet many manufacturers are still having difficulty obtaining this data. There is little real-time information, minimal usable metrics, and little visibility. ERP systems store part of the data, but they are unable to provide information to the shop floor, which is required to solve problems as they arise.
Here, products like MES can make a difference. It keeps track of and records every step of the manufacturing process, from the raw materials to the finished goods. The production process is then updated with this information.
The implementation of MES can assist manufacturers in utilising capabilities they were unaware they have and in more effectively allocating resources that have the potential to increase efficiency.
It Pays to Be Selective
Forward-thinking firms who adopted MES software years ago are now in a position where they are requesting add-on features and functions that further gather production process data and use it in a way that widens the scope of the MES solution. In order to prevent the four walls of the factory from serving as an informational black hole, it is essential to make the MES data visible as part of the wider supply chain. Mobility, IIoT, and increased data usage are on the wish lists of more manufacturers.
As a very effective instrument for increasing factory efficiency, MES has advanced to the point where it is necessary to deploy the system in the right way. Some manufacturers will find that implementation on their own property works best, while others will gain more from a cloud-based solution. For many, combining the two will be the best course of action. Nowadays, subscription-based solutions are common, enabling users to adopt MES more quickly and with less effort.
The ability to show the data gathered by the MES system on tablets and other devices has increasingly begun to be requested by manufacturers. Additionally, to meet this demand, MES suppliers are advancing mobile access to their solutions.
Unless You Use It, It is Just Data
The challenging element is not gathering the data, but structuring it so that manufacturers can use it. Two phases exist. Which data can be utilised for which purpose is the first question to be answered. The second is intelligent presentation; how can this data be set up so that those who view it find it useful?
The delivery of the appropriate information to the appropriate person at the appropriate time will require constant improvement from MES solutions in the future. If people have to search for vast volumes of data, there is no value in collecting it. To be effective, MES solutions must automatically transform the data that is being captured into targeted actionable intelligence, facilitating improvement and a culture of action at all organisational levels.
Industry 4.0 is Coming; Get Ready
The term “smart manufacturing” is no longer just a catchphrase. The concept of “Industry 4.0” is beginning to materialise as machines grow more intelligent. It’s not only science fiction to imagine a world where machines order their own parts based on their need. Something that comes close to complete automation might be feasible in less than ten years.
But although some manufacturers stand prepared to embrace such a future, others- the broad majority, in fact- will take time to adjust. Advanced MES solutions will help them along the way. Using the right kind of data in the right kind of way, manufacturers can make them more flexible and more efficient – steadily progressing to what the manufacturing industry will look like in a decade.
The Future is Tailor-made
The global technology market is expected to reach $7.4 billion by 2020, therefore over the next few years, MES is only expected to increase.
Demand from users who are already deploying MES solutions, as well as the addition of new users, will likely lead to MES moving one step closer to offering specialised, purpose-built solutions that will aid manufacturers in maximising productivity, maintaining success, and pursuing their goal of becoming lower-cost producers.
Company Website: www.aptean.com
