What is an MES?
MES (Manufacturing Execution Systems) have long been a pillar of industrial production infrastructure. These systems capture equipment data and orchestrate the different production units in real time. They play a crucial role in factory efficiency, fostering the sharing of best practices, reducing cycle time, optimizing product quality and preventing bottlenecks.
The ambiguities and challenges of traditional MES
A complex architecture
MES, in their current form, can be complex amalgamations of various systems, ranging from robots, machines, databases, dashboards, etc. This heterogeneous nature often makes their management and integration difficult and costly for companies.
The human challenge
One of the major criticisms of traditional MES is its tendency to neglect the human factor. By focusing on predefined models and systems, it may not reflect the ground reality or take into account the human variable. This can lead to frustration among manufacturers who aspire to greater flexibility in an ever-changing production world.
The “Purdue” model and its shortcomings
Many MESs rely on the “Purdue” model, a model that, while historically effective, is increasingly seen as aging. With the current challenges of data standardization, connectivity between machines and the rise of digital twins, it is becoming necessary to rethink this basis.
Towards a renewal of MES
The evolution towards a simplified architecture
To remain relevant, MES must evolve towards a simpler and ultimately more flexible structure. Rather than adding new solutions to an already complex system, which often only increases confusion, it is essential to rethink the basic MES architecture.
Why prefer SaaS platforms?
The future of MES could lie in SaaS platforms. These platforms, which combine local ( edge ) storage with cloud computing power, are user-centric. They offer configuration tools adapted to meet the diverse needs of manufacturers, thus facilitating decisions and improving operational efficiency.
Conclusion
The industry of the future requires more agile and responsive manufacturing execution systems. Changing production needs and increasing operational complexity require solutions that are more flexible and scalable than traditional MES. Companies are therefore encouraged to embrace this change to ensure their competitiveness in the future.
