Are you having trouble demonstrating to management what a manufacturing execution system (MES) is and what it can do for you? Or do you simply need to justify why you even need a MES? Perhaps you are the executive decision maker and just need some answers. Bianca Scholten, the author of the best-selling book, The Road to Integration: Applying ISA-95 in Manufacturing, shares her expertise on the topic in her latest easy-to-read guide to MES.


In recent decades, says Scholten, industrial companies have invested much time and money in not only machine and production line automation but also in ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems. The MES falls between these two layers. Many of the preparatory activities (e.g., detailed production scheduling and recipe management), but also retrospective activities (e.g., data collection, reporting, and analysis) are primitive at best.


Ideal for CEOs, CFOs, and managers, Scholten sheds some light on how to get out of this outdated situation using real-world examples and the knowledge gleaned from IT, production managers, and other colleagues who have been through the MES experience. She covers MES selection, company expectations during implementation and initial use of the MES, advice on developing and maintaining a multi-site MES template, and return on investment. She also adds a birdA's-eye view of the ISA-95 standard for better communication between systems and their applications.