Q: What were the most important MES market trends in 2009?

A: First, enterprise. As MES is being recognized as a second or third enterprise suite, with ERP and PLM, C-level executives are involved in the buying process. Vendor moves this year should accelerate their enterprise success. For example, Invensys and Rockwell Software’s new executives for MES/MOM have enterprise software backgrounds and have structured software divisions that may be better equipped to sell to the enterprise.

Second, breadth. Several major players made significant functional releases this year. Examples include GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms, which added scheduling and a slew of other functions, and Camstar, Wonderware, and Rockwell, which created enhanced analytics. R&D and PLM integration is moving beyond Siemens to, for example, Dassault Systèmes with Rockwell.

Third, digestible MES. The momentum has shifted toward solutions that can be bought and applied a bit at a time, but integrate successfully. Examples are Apriso, Eyelit, and Wonderware. Another approach to digestible solutions is an industry-specific focus, as with Siemens’ acquisition of Elan, and with Intercim, iBASEt, Factivity, Emerson, Camstar, AspenTech, and others.

Q: What surprised you the most in 2009?

A: The biggest surprise for me was the lack of activity by ERP players to tackle the MES/MOM market. SAP was not very vocal about the Visiprise acquisition, which allowed other ERP players to postpone any acquisition during this down economy.

Something I did not see coming was Fanuc splitting with GE, but, again, a down economy does force companies to focus on their core capabilities and away from sidelights.

Q: What are the most important MES developments you expect to see in 2010?

A: Name confusion. I expect to see continued worldwide understanding of MES and its value. Unfortunately, it’s happening at just the time the vendors are calling their products MOM or something other than MES.

And, diverging paths. If the recovery is somewhat on and off, which I expect, we are likely to see an increasing distinction between those companies that are frozen and waiting for confidence to make investments and those moving ahead with MES to prepare for the upturn when it comes.