There was a time when a manufacturing execution system was a self-contained, independent application that, as the scheduling and workflow engine of the production line, ruled the factory floor. But as manufacturers changed to a global business model, they started integrating manufacturing execution systems (MES) with enterprise systems like ERP. They also started outsourcing, and were under pressure to comply with more and more quality-related regulations.
Now, MES is no longer an island unto itself, but an important cog in the organizational wheel. As a result, MES vendors are recasting their products to accommodate the current business environment.
“One of the big macro trends happening right now with MES is that it is moving into a new category that is yet to be defined,” says Tom Comstock, executive vice president of worldwide marketing at Apriso.