what is an mes

MES stands for Manufacturing Execution System. It is a computerized system used in manufacturing to track and document the transformation of raw materials to finished goods. MES provides information that helps optimize manufacturing operations and production efficiency. It tracks product and order details on the plant floor, collects transactions for reporting to financial and planning systems, and electronically dispatches orders and manufacturing instructions to shop floor personnel. MES helps eliminate human error in manufacturing by providing real-time quality data checks, yield monitoring, automatic enforcement of specifications and business rules, and as-manufactured lot, batch, device or unit traceability – all resulting in improved product and process quality, and higher productivity. MES is linked with manufacturing industry and serves as a functional layer between the ERP and the process control systems on the factory floor, giving manufacturers real-time workflow visibility, flexibility and insight into how best to improve enterprise-wide manufacturing operations.