MES, as anyone who has ever worked on an implementation can tell you, does not mean Makes Everything Simple. The Manufacturing Execution System sits in a gap in most manufacturing operations that is very difficult to define, and is fraught with problems.

 Why? Because, by its very nature, MES spans two completely different disciplines and attempts to marry their needs together. Unfortunately, those disciplinary needs are often in conflict, and usually neither side understands the other well. In short, successful MES must be tightly integrated with both IT and Production (or Maintenance) Engineering; two groups which have typically been at odds with one another for decades.

 Manufacturing Execution Systems must translate highly specific "data" about conditions on the manufacturing floor into general "information" about production for management reporting, or likewise must translate general sales order information from an order entry system into specific details for a production machine to correctly make a product to fulfill the order. For example, T4:12.ACC means little if anything to the IT group, but may be an accumulator for an injection molding press downtime to the engineering group. Management cares about downtime. Or the IT groups sees an order line item for 18 blue widgets, while the production engineering group needs instructions for the press to inject using a solenoid at O:12/6. The customer cares that he got blue if he ordered blue widgets. The Manufacturing Execution System must translate these discipline domains.

 The key to successful MES implementation is not what box of software you purchase. Every vendor out there claims their MES engine is the best, and all have their strengths and their weaknesses. But just like installing a word processor on your computer will not write your resume, installing a packaged MES engine will not give you a working Manufacturing Execution System. The real work is in crossing the discipline boundaries and configuring the system to the specifics of your operation.

 Industrial Informatics, Inc. has been working with MES system design and implementation since 1995, before there were any "packaged" MES engines. We have experience in both IT and production control systems; we can work with your AS-400 or Windows Server 2003 just as easily as we can work with your PLCs controlling the machines. Our broad cross disciplinary experience can help your MES project truly span the divide between the plant floor and the information systems, and result in a successful project.