Digitalization in manufacturing companies can take many forms: automation, documentation, traceability and management. Different systems are designed for different purposes and it’s crucial to choose the right solution for the right task.

For example, an ERP system is the company’s backbone for finance, purchasing, HR and sales. It’s powerful for business processes, but not designed to handle the dynamic and real-time demands of manufacturing. When ERP is squeezed over functions it wasn’t designed for, it can lead to complexity, inefficiencies and extra costs.

Many factories also use specialized stand-alone systems, such as WMS for inventory management, CMMS for maintenance, LIMS for lab data or OEE tools for performance. They can be effective on their own, but often create a complex data landscape where information is siloed. This makes it difficult to get a full overview and can hamper future development.

An MES (Manufacturing Execution System), on the other hand, is designed to manage production itself. MES records and documents data from raw materials, process parameters, staffing, quality and finished goods. It ensures correct execution, traceability and real-time insights on the shop floor.

MES+ (also known as Manufacturing Operations Management) broadens the perspective. It brings together the entire factory operations in one platform: planning, quality, food safety, maintenance, inventory and optimization. MES+ connects processes in real time, reduces the need for stand-alone systems and provides a holistic data foundation – both for daily operations and for future development.