MES-systems: a step up to the status of the leader among producers

The need to modernize production is said almost constantly. And we are talking about the complex organization of production and methods for its improvement. The so-called MES-systems became very popular in this respect.

Their full name is the Manufacturing Execution System, which literally translates as "production and secondary system". What functions does the MES system perform?

• Initiation of the production process;
• Real-time production tracking;
• Instant reaction to changes;
• Compilation of reports on the flow of production processes in real time;
• Exchange of information between shops, engineering and business units.

What is it for? And what kind of information can the manager receive from the system reports? The greatest weight, of course, is the coefficient of production efficiency. How can I calculate it? By the following formula:

Efficiency = T rec. / T loss100%

Consider this for a specific example. We have a factory for the production of parts. Twenty minutes are required for the production of one part and its processing. The total time it is in production (from the beginning of production to getting into the warehouse) is three working shifts of six hours (18 hours = 1080 minutes). In this case, the ratio of useful time to useless will be 20/1080. We multiply the obtained number by 100% and get the efficiency factor of production (in our case it will be equal to 1.8%). This is an occasion to reflect. And for production of the world level this coefficient will be equal to 50%. That is, in order for our plant to be among the leaders, it needs to reduce the production time of one part by almost thirty times.

Strictly speaking, MES-systems were created in order that each manufacturer had the opportunity to improve for himself these indicators. With the help of a well-tuned working system, you can get the following results:

• Reduction in the duration of the production cycle (more than 45%);
• Increase productivity (from 30%);
• Reduction of time costs for manual data entry (from 75%);
• Reduction in the amount of work in progress (by more than 20%);
• Saving time spent on compiling reports and paperwork (more than 60%).

It should be remembered that MES-systems, despite its impressive functionality, can serve to implement both good and bad ideas. The system you set up works the way you need. And the conclusions from the received reports, too, do it yourself. MES-system is just a software and hardware complex that uses programmed methods of production organization.

To achieve maximum results, you need the presence in the staff of the organization of experienced professionals who are able to perform all the required calculations, analyze the operation of the system, draw the appropriate conclusions and direct the work to obtain the maximum efficiency factor.

Nevertheless, with the help of MES-systems, the activity of these specialists is greatly simplified, which allows achieving much greater results in significantly shorter terms.

Good luck!