Keywords: Manufacturing Execution System (MES), Discrete Industries, Manufacturing Intelligence, Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), Analytics
The global Manufacturing Execution System (MES) market for discrete industries is increasing in all regions of the world, driven by improving economic conditions, new digital technologies, the Industrial IoT, and the need for product innovation and collaboration, as well as the need to increase efficiency, and this growth will continue. The use of new analytic tools and real-time information, intelligence, new platforms, and other technologies such as digital dashboards and mobile devices are increasing MES usage.
Users Should Consider How Smart and Innovative Technologies Are Integrated
“There are disruptive and smart software technologies and business dynamics that are driving MES implementation. Users are adopting MES because of the new technology tools, industrial IoT, dashboards, situational and location aware software, apps for phablets and smartphones, new analytic tools and other ease of use tools for insights – all of which are being integrated into new MES solutions. These newer, smart technologies and next-generation architectures offer better integration, intelligence, collaboration, analytic tools, and visibility that are more intuitive, intelligent, easier to use, and improve time to value and align with the new tech-savvy worker generation,” according to Principal Consultant Janice Abel, principal author of ARC’s “Manufacturing Execution Systems for Discrete Manufacturing Technology Evaluation and Selection Guide”.
Users Need to Consider Potential of Integrating MES with IIoT, Manufacturing Intelligence, and Analytics
Manufacturers are realizing immense value from using MES to increase process performance. MES solutions are already integrating to the newer IoT-connected smart devices as well as the older devices still in place that companies cannot afford to replace immediately. Furthermore, according to Janice Abel, “MES and the intelligence provided leads to better knowledge, insight, and actionable decisions that improve workflow, quality, and productivity. To leverage the Industrial IoT – including all the data from the newer digital sensors and technology applications effectively – organizations must be able to collect, integrate, contextualize, and analyze the data from multiple data sources, units, plants, and applications and use this information for faster decision making. MES solutions that include manufacturing intelligence applications are changing and it is important that users select the right software for their industry, application, and region. A number of independent and dependent factors influence the MES market. Some affect a particular industry or region more than others. The solutions are becoming more intuitive, situational, and location aware, and offer the ability to compare best practices and functions across sites, product types, or make changes in real-time.”
Evaluation Criteria for Considerations
ARC’s MES technology evaluation and selection guide includes selection criteria for the key functions and features required to impact the business. The MES market is diverse, spanning different functionalities and capabilities with each industry having its own distinct applications and suppliers. The selection guide explores user objectives, technical selection criteria, adoption criteria, best practices, market trends, and leading suppliers by industry and geographic regions. The guide will be instrumental in helping users select MES technology and understand best technology practices and what new features and functions should be considered, such as IoT, mobility, cloud, SaaS, graphics, and more. This guide contains guidance, functional descriptions, regional information, user practices, specific selection criteria, supplier strengths by industry and regions, and supplier profiles to help manufacturers select the appropriate technology and lower risk and improve benefits.
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