MES and the Future of Manufacturing
Global manufacturing is continually growing and expanding to include new technology. Since incorporating the use of manufacturing execution systems (MES), growth in the manufacturing sector has only increased. In 2014, the global MES market was valued at around $7.86 billion and is projected to be worth $19.36 billion by 2023. To understand the full picture of where the MES market will take manufacturing in the future, it is helpful to understand its role in the past.
The History of MES
In the 1970s, software first entered the manufacturing scene. It helped take some simple tasks, like accounting, inventory, and other housekeeping items and automate them. While this was helpful, it wasn’t enough to help with more substantial tasks like tracking, controlling, and planning materials.
In the last ten years or so, MES software hit the manufacturing industry with some big promises to fulfill. Operations department were needing something that could help with the substantial areas, like planning, quality control, tracking information, and handling manufacturing indicators. MES was developed to be able to tick all the boxes. This helped companies monitor all this information, along with connecting the information between different complex systems.
As more innovations in technology came around, the potential grew. This has attracted attention from other software developers, bringing more options at differing price ranges to manufacturers. Cloud-based systems and storage expanded a lot of options for managers to access information at any time, in almost any place. Artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and IoT portions of software were able to help increase automation, cutting back on precious work hours for employees. As the manufacturing industry has grown globally, the contributions of MES software has become more important than ever before.
The Future of MES and Manufacturing
A very telling number shows that 34% of manufacturers use MES software already or plan to in the near future. Once a software becomes standard in the manufacturing industry, it becomes even harder to function without it. As manufacturing reaches more countries and becomes even more global, MES software becomes even more vital to keeping up with production.
The two biggest benefits of using MES are increasing efficiency and cutting costs. Efficiency is improved by improved production planning, streamlined workflow, and resource optimization. Whether it is in the back office or on the plant floor, MES software is becoming invaluable at reducing scrap, rework, and holding times on products while also maximizing throughput and use of materials. While each of these improves efficiency, they also help cut costs for materials and the amount of labor involved. Overall, employees are less stressed, and companies are better able to hit their targets and follow regulated compliances standards.
MES software will continue to grow and offer a greater ability to keep factories, plants, and head offices connected to make faster decisions with information that is quickly available. More MES software options are always being developed to help companies of any size, all around the world. Lower prices and help to install the complex systems will also help businesses implement the right MES software for their needs, including manufacturers in many different industries.
While no one knows for sure what MES will look like in a decade or two, it is obvious that MES software will hold an important role. Keeping manufacturing companies connected to each function in their entire plant or factory is an important part of being successful. As technology improves and expands, so will the abilities of the manufacturing industry.