With the constant pressure to improve efficiency and the ever-changing advancements in technology, manufacturers are continuously on the lookout for new systems and procedures to take their production to the next level.
Probably the best place to start is to assess a plant’s overall equipment effectiveness (OEE). Improving this key metric can have a profound impact on the profitability of a business and is a good starting point for any business looking to improve its production efficiency. Doing this effectively, however, requires the right data at the right time and many manufacturers are ill-equipped to tackle this endeavor as many continue to rely on outdated methods of data collection. The data that they do have access to may be old or worse, wrong or inaccurate. That’s where a proper manufacturing execution system (MES) comes into play.
Proper implementation of a Manufacturing Execution System (MES) ups your manufacturing team’s efficiency on the shop floor. Essentially, MES tracks the manufacturing process from the raw materials phase through the finished product. It provides the right information at the right time to show the floor manager how to optimize current conditions to improve production output. MES presents plenty of valuable advantages to manufacturers; we’ve listed the top seven below.
Real-Time Data
While it goes without saying, having access to real-time data is crucial in evaluating current job status and accurately anticipating future business needs. Prior to MES, companies would only be able to look at historical machine data and thus be unable to pivot their operations quickly. This shortcoming often resulted in over-runs, wasted materials and shortages. With a good MES system, these situations are easily minimized—if not eliminated—resulting in immediate improvements to OEE.
Lower Costs
As you get a better handle on the product, the material, time, and labor required to complete the job, you are able to eliminate overlaps in production or scheduling personnel, and decrease inventory.
Improved Machine and Operator Efficiencies
No more guess-work when trying to improve efficiency: By tracking each asset’s production in real time, managers are able to make more informed decisions when it comes to evaluating the individual components used in the production cycle. All data is quickly accessible in an easy-to-read graphical representation right on the shop floor.
Capture costs more accurately
With MES, various costs such as labor, scrap, downtime, and maintenance are recorded in real-time from the shop floor. Management teams in turn use this data to evaluate unprofitable business models and in pricing new work. Since other systems share this data, MES enables your company to increase productivity in all its production facilities.
Reduce waste, scrap, and overages
MES precisely analyzes production lines and finished products. Therefore this system detects any inconsistencies or anomalies on these lines, immediately suspending them to limit the number of bad parts and wasted material.
Perform predictive maintenance and decrease downtime
With the data obtained from MES software, businesses are able to further improve OEE by taking a more proactive approach to machine maintenance. You and your maintenance personnel no longer have to wait until production is disrupted before appropriate action is taken.
Moreover, an MES generates realistic production schedules, by tracking raw materials and parts inventory. This eliminates time wasted from re-configuring schedules while parts are in transit. It then becomes possible to incorporate employee scheduling into this program making effective use of available staff.
Reduce inventory
Storing inventory surplus costs money. Besides the cost of producing overage, transporting, storing, and monitoring these goods get expensive. An MES will constantly update your inventory records with new production, scrap material, and non-conforming products. That means your purchasing, shipping and scheduling departments know what is available in each facility, and what they need to order.
How NC-Vision can help compose your MES
Built from the ground up on a true no-code foundation, NC-Vision empowers production and manufacturing companies to take control: Simplify production planning and visualize what’s going on the shopfloor – anywhere, anytime, creating your unique digital twin.
Get real-time insights into processes, machines, and resources to support data-driven decisions and increase business efficiency.
Adapt with Ease
Respond to new products, variants, regulations and guidelines. Improvise effectively when things have to move fast.
Implement Fast
Go live in days instead of months with your individual composition. Add plug & play solutions from the marketplace later.
Bring Down Costs
Avoid lengthy project planning and overpriced customizing, while keeping operating costs in check.
Test-Drive Your Unique MES Solution
In just 30 minutes, we’ll mix and match the applications you need, so you can see your individual MES/MOM solution live in action.
