An MES (Manufacturing Execution System) is a software solution that monitors, controls, and optimizes production in real time. It serves as an interface between the corporate management level (ERP system) and the production level (machines, systems, personnel).
The main functions of an MES are order management, production data acquisition, material and inventory management, and performance analysis. In addition, an MES enables traceability of production steps for safety and compliance.
MES helps companies make their production more efficient, transparent, and flexible. There are various off-the-shelf solutions available, most of which need to be customized to the needs and circumstances of the respective company, but there are also customized solutions that have evolved over time.
Two of our MES projects
In recent years, we have had the opportunity to implement various MES projects, two of which we would like to present in more detail today.
Example 1: Adaptation of MES functionalities based on SIMATIC IT Production Suite
One of our customers uses an MES to parameterize production steps. These are grouped into recipes/product definitions and stored in versions (validity period, production quantity). The machines are connected via distributed relational databases. Our customer has implemented the management of data separated into different process steps using Siemens WinCC.
The standard functionalities of the MES have been highly specialized and adapted by Vialutions, and we have been adapting and maintaining them to meet requirements in various plants across Europe for over 10 years.
Example 2: Customized redesign and adaptation of an MES to customer requirements
Vialutions is also responsible for the complete development and support of the MES for another international manufacturing company.
In the software solution implemented here, the MES controls over 100 pieces of equipment on the shop floor. The MES also offers fully embedded SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) functionality, which enables the parameters of the technological processes and the operation of the devices to be monitored and visualized.
The integration of production (machines and other sensors) ranges from a simple file interface to bidirectional full integration of prototype machines via Opc-UA (with, for example, Siemens SIMATIC S7 control).
Among other things, the machines can request master and order data from the MES and supply information about production to higher-level systems for later evaluation and posting.
It is also possible to record process data continuously or per manufacturing operation, visualize it, and store it in compressed form. The software includes a workflow system that can be flexibly configured by the customer, allowing users to access the MES functions equally on Android handhelds with laser scanners in production, in a web browser, or in a Windows interface.
We have been supporting these systems for over 15 years across several software generations. In doing so, we continually adapt the configuration and software to the requirements of production so that production does not have to adapt to the limitations of standard software.
Why an individual MES solution?
Manufacturing is THE unique selling point of a manufacturing company. Adapting this unique selling point to standard software makes little sense. Instead, custom software (e.g., in the form of adaptations to existing frameworks) should be used to tailor the solution to the requirements of manufacturing in order to optimally exploit all potential.
Feel free to contact us!
Vialutions provides cross-industry support in the MES area. The specialists at our Competence Center in Bayreuth have many years of experience in addressing individual requirements. Our MES projects range from standard software with customer-specific enhancements to complete customized software based on the ISA95 standard.
Do you have an MES in use and see a need for optimization? Or are you currently planning to introduce a new MES?
Feel free to contact us for further information!