The results of this study show conclusive evidence that Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) provide considerable performance advantages to plants that use them over plants that don't use MES.

MES can boost profitability, productivity and process performance, plus assist people in their jobs. Among the Industry Week Best Plants finalists and winners, these benefits are clearly evident.

Industry Directions documents the study of the use of MES among the Industry Week Best Plants winners and finalists. The goal was to understand the performance of plants using MES versus those not using MES.

On nearly every measure, plants using MES improve more rapidly than those that do not. This phenomenon comes not only from the system capabilities for plantwide visibility, accurate real-time date about production processes and issues, and operator instructions — it also comes from the empowerment of the production employees. Another benefit that contributes, but is measured at a corporate level, is that other systems throughout an enterprise can use this more accurate and real-time data.

If manufacturing is a core activity for your company, MES is worth the investment. The best of the Best Plants use it today. They are improving faster, and meeting greater challenges more effectively. Those who do not could be left behind quickly.