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Manufacturing Execution System (MES)

A Manufacturing Execution System (MES) helps manufacturers monitor and manage production. Learn how MES works and how a Work Execution Layer complements it.
What is MES?

What is a Manufacturing Execution System (MES)?

A Manufacturing Execution System (MES) is software used to monitor, manage and control manufacturing operations as production takes place.

It connects production planning with activities on the factory floor, helping manufacturers track production progress, monitor equipment performance, manage materials and maintain visibility into quality and output.

An MES typically sits between enterprise systems, such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), and the machines, processes and people involved in manufacturing.

By collecting and managing production information, MES software helps manufacturers understand what is being produced, how production is progressing and whether operations are meeting the required standards.

Why is a Manufacturing Execution System Important?

Manufacturers need accurate information about production to manage efficiency, quality and delivery.

Without connected systems, production information may be spread across spreadsheets, paper reports, machine interfaces and separate applications. This makes it harder to identify delays, understand performance and respond when something goes wrong.

A Manufacturing Execution System helps manufacturers:

  • Monitor production progress and output
  • Track equipment performance and downtime
  • Manage materials and production activities
  • Improve product quality and traceability
  • Identify production bottlenecks
  • Support regulatory compliance
  • Make better decisions using production data

By bringing this information together, an MES provides greater visibility into manufacturing operations and helps connect production planning with actual performance.

What Does a Manufacturing Execution System Do?

The capabilities of an MES vary between platforms, but most focus on coordinating and monitoring production activities.

An MES may manage work orders, track production against schedules, monitor equipment and collect information about materials, quality checks and finished products.

It can also provide traceability by connecting production information with individual products, batches or components.

In more advanced environments, MES platforms may integrate with machines, automation systems and other manufacturing technologies to provide a more complete view of production performance.

Some MES solutions also include operator instructions, electronic checklists and quality workflows. However, the depth of support for individual frontline tasks varies between systems.

MES vs Work Execution Layer: What’s the Difference?

Although a Manufacturing Execution System and a Work Execution Layer both support manufacturing operations, they have different areas of emphasis.

An MES primarily helps manufacturers coordinate, monitor and manage production. It provides visibility into production orders, equipment performance, output and other manufacturing activities.

A Work Execution Layer focuses on how individual tasks are carried out. It connects workers with the instructions, checks and information they need while capturing evidence of what actually happens during the work.

For example, an MES may show that a production changeover has been completed, while a Work Execution Layer can guide the operator through the changeover and capture the equipment settings, safety checks and approvals required before production restarts.

The distinction is not absolute. Some MES platforms provide detailed operator guidance and evidence capture, while work execution platforms may include task planning, scheduling and reporting.

The important consideration is whether the technology provides sufficient visibility into both production performance and the work being carried out.

Why Do Manufacturers Need Both?

Even with an MES in place, some manufacturers still rely on paper instructions, spreadsheets or informal processes to manage frontline activities.

Production progress may be visible in the system, but the individual steps taken during assembly, inspection, maintenance or changeover may not be captured in sufficient detail.

A Work Execution Layer can help address this gap by providing structured guidance and evidence capture at the point of work.

When connected appropriately, the two technologies can complement each other. Production information can be used to support frontline tasks, while the data captured during those tasks can contribute to wider operational reporting and analysis.

This creates a clearer connection between what was planned, what was produced and how the work was completed.

How WorkfloPlus Complements MES

WorkfloPlus provides a Work Execution Layer that helps manufacturers standardise frontline activities and capture reliable operational data as work is completed.

Workers can follow guided digital instructions for assembly, inspections, quality checks, maintenance and production changeovers using mobile devices, tablets, desktops or supported smart glasses.

Photographs, measurements, timestamps, signatures and other evidence can be captured directly within each workflow, creating instant job reports and a traceable history of completed work.

WorkfloPlus can also connect with wider manufacturing and business systems through integrations and APIs, allowing work execution information to support existing operational processes.

Rather than replacing an MES, WorkfloPlus can complement manufacturing systems by strengthening the connection between production planning, frontline execution and the data generated during work.

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