The operation of a contemporary manufacturing company requires finding the right balance between the business administration at the top level and proper implementation on the plant floor level.
When evaluating the possibilities for digital transformation, business people usually face two crucial types of software: ERP solutions and solutions specific to the manufacturing floor. While both types of solutions make manufacturing companies prosperous, these solutions operate on completely different levels of business.
The understanding of the difference between MES and ERP helps IT Specialists and Plant Managers implement the Right Tools and Optimize Flows of Data, Without Creating Expensive Operational Silos.
According to the definition, an Enterprise Resource Planning solution is the brain of the entire company, which combines essential business processes such as finance, human resources, purchasing, sales, and supply chain management in one integrated database.
On the other hand, a manufacturing execution system is the muscle of the plant floor. This solution interacts with machines, sensors, and workers to control the process of transforming raw materials into finished products.
While both systems involve production orders, there exists a major difference between them in scope, timeframe, and functionality:
In order to operate factories efficiently, companies need to go beyond conventional software departments to create seamless workflow processes:
MES vs ERP helps avoid misalignments in software installation. The enterprise solution provides information on which products should be produced, the deadlines, and budgets for each order. At the same time, the plant execution system controls the process of manufacturing those products through monitoring of material usage, work time, and equipment downtime.
Operating both systems separately leads to mistakes in data input. Using MES ERP integration technology guarantees seamless two-way data communication between the enterprise systems.
Using complementary enterprise and factory floor systems, the following advantages are achieved straightaway:
Although there are definite long-term advantages, a unified manufacturing system poses several technical obstacles. The existing legacy equipment often does not have the necessary communication capabilities, preventing data access.
In addition, the proper matching of various database structures is essential for successful integration. It is necessary to embrace industry standards and modular software architecture.
The maximization of efficiency in industry can only be achieved by acknowledging the fact that enterprise planning and manufacturing execution complement each other rather than being rivals. Whereas enterprise suites manage enterprise planning, a manufacturing execution system takes care of perfect physical execution.
Ans: Enterprise resource planning systems plan businesses, while manufacturing execution systems execute production processes.
Ans: No, since enterprise systems lack the capability to monitor production processes at a factory floor level
Ans: This process eliminates data silos and aligns planning with reality.
