Manufacturing Execution System (MES)
A Manufacturing Execution System is the tool enabling Lean Manufacturing by providing a factory floor information system performing various functional tasks such as
- Dispatch list for distributing production orders to tools
- Detailed status information of products, charges, tools, and material
- Management of process plans and parts lists
- Order processing for production units
- Provision of operating instructions and other documents
- Logging of operating and equipment data
- Management of product, process, and test data
- Process monitoring and improvement
- Providing maintenance staff with equipment operating state and consumption data
- Process and material tracking and tracing
- Product résumé
- Equipment utilization and support for improving overall equipment efficiency (OEE)
Product, process and equipment data are received and immediately processed by the MES in real time.
In semiconductor industry, we have implemented solutions with WorkStream, FACTORYworks, PROMIS, or SiView, for example.
MES complements ERP/CRM/MRP II
As an integral part of the shop floor area a manufacturing execution system complements administrative systems such as SAP/R3, iBaan, Siebel, Navision, or Agilisys Automotive XPPS. These systems are employed for
- enterprise resource planning (ERP),
- manufacturing resource planning (MRP II), i.e. advance planning, and
- customer relationship management (CRM) due to customer services.
The MES can periodically synchronize its information about process plans, parts lists, material, tool configuration, status, or manufacturing progress with other systems.
LineWorks as MES solution from camLine
The LineWorks product family represents an MES that allows an effective integration into existing system environments due to its open interfaces, its modularity, and scalability. The manufacturing information can be much more detailed in LineWorks than in ERP/CRM/MRP II systems. Advance planning is significantly simplified and traceability is guaranteed in the intended granularity. Using LineWorks, manufacturing processes gain considerably in security since order processing is monitored and controlled at shopfloor level in detail. If LineWorks is employed as a standard MES in heterogeneous production sites it can become a decisive link between the planning system and the distributed manufacturing tools.
