In the first part of the article we analyzed what the Manufacturing Execution System (MES) is, what purposes it serves and where it exactly fits into the factory systems, both in terms of processes and from the IT point of view.

But as with all IT systems covered under one general term (ERP, WMS, Payroll, BI, etc.), MES has a variety of options, both in terms of cost and approach. So which one is right for each factory? Although the process for making such a decision is complex, we will try to set the four most important parameters, in our opinion:

1. Production automation percentage.

The production process in the field can be automatic or manual. This depends on the type of production, the products, the size of the factory and a number of other reasons. It is extremely important to evaluate on a case-by-case basis whether the MES to be selected is designed to handle mainly automation or operator operations or a combination of the above depending on the specific factory.

2. Expertise in the production of the company that has MES.

The production process is never the same even in similar products. It is important to make a technical analysis at the level of details and then the evaluation should be done not only by the company but also by the members of the team that will undertake the project. There must be a deep knowledge not only of MES, but also of all the processes and logic followed in by an industry in the field of production.

3. Easy to configure platform.

MES is an information system. As with all modern software, it is extremely important to be able to easily configure the platform without the use of code. This will give great flexibility and speed, both in the initial implementation and in future changes, as well as in the integration of automations.

4. After Sales & Support:

No matter how good an information system is, if there are no guarantees for its proper maintenance in order to remain at the forefront of technology, but also for the effective technical support of the factory, investing in it does not make much sense. Information systems are living organisms that grow with business and as such must constantly evolve.