The Top 5 Advantages of a Manufacturing Execution System

Proper implementation of a Manufacturing Execution System (MES) ups your manufacturing team's efficiency on the shop floor. Before computer systems, an MES consisted of hand-drawn charts and managers with clipboards checking inventory levels. Essentially, MES tracks the manufacturing process from the raw materials phase through the finished product. It provides the right information at the right time to show the floor manager how to optimize current conditions to improve production output.

Today, computers map MES at most factories offering extensive data and analysis, previously unattainable through traditional methods. MES presents plenty of valuable advantages to manufacturers; we've listed the top five outlined below.

Capture costs more accurately

With MES, various costs such as labor, scrap, downtime, and maintenance are recorded in real-time from the shop floor. Management teams in turn use this data to evaluate unprofitable business models and in pricing new work. Since other systems share this data, MES enables your company to increase productivity in all its production facilities.

Reduce waste, scrap, and overages

MES precisely analyzes production lines and finished products. Therefore this system detects any inconsistencies or aberrations on these lines, immediately halting them to limit the number of bad parts and wasted material.

Decrease downtime

Through utilization of MES, your system generates realistic production schedules. MES accomplishes this feat by tracking raw materials and parts inventory. This eliminates time wasted from re-configuring schedules while parts are in transit. It then becomes possible to incorporate employee scheduling into this program making effective use of available staff.

Reduce costs

It's possible to streamline operations logically once you get a better handle on the product, the material, time, and labor required to complete the job. This process eventually enables you to cut back on ordering or to free up personnel from operating production lines and controlling inventory.

Reduce inventory

Storing inventory surplus costs money. Besides the cost of producing overage, transporting, storing, and monitoring these goods get expensive. An MES will constantly update your inventory records with new production, scrap material, and non-conforming product. That means your purchasing, shipping and scheduling departments know what is available in each facility, and what they need to order.

Clearly, an MES does more than simply track the amount of product coming off of your production lines. Improving your facility's efficiency begins with accurately recording production, material usage and personnel time. MES accomplishes this feat with ease and precision.