Production

The production and inventory functionality of Infor MES is the core upon which all other functionality is layered.

Production orders are organized into production runs (jobs). Production runs are executed on the production line and all related production, inventory, and quality data is linked back to the production run.

You can configure MES to handle continuous, batch/semi-continuous, or discrete production methods.

MES handles many production processes through configuration. Here are a few examples:

  • Assembly
  • Weigh and dispense
  • Deconstruction
  • Sorting/packing
  • Reel production
  • Casting
  • Injection molding

MES caters for Make-to-Order, Make-to-Stock, and Engineer-to-Order.

Production order progress is tracked through the factory for each manufacturing operation or for each batch process, where each manufacturing operation is represented on the routing for the material being produced.

MES enables you to create production orders manually. Typically however, production orders are downloaded automatically from ERP, by using MES scheduling module.

These options determine how jobs are started in MES:

  • Manual: Operators manually start a job from the dashboard. This job is scheduled or ad-hoc, depending on the configuration.
  • Automatic from MES: Operators manually start a job from the dashboard. MES sends all the relevant data, such as machine parameters and set points, to the machine through Open Platform Communication (OPC). OPC then handles starting the job on the equipment automatically.
  • Automatic from PLC: Operators start jobs on the equipment. The related signal is sent to MES and the job is automatically started without any operator interaction with MES.

Key features

These are the key benefits of the production capability of MES:

  • Go paperless by releasing production orders to production digitally.
  • Attach documents, instructions and other related information to the production order.
  • Record when production runs start and stop manually.
  • Optionally send signal to start the production run on the machines automatically, including sending machine parameters and set points.
  • Automatically start/stop production runs through OPC.
  • Track the progress production orders through the routing.
  • Split production orders into multiple production runs, and execute at different times, on different equipment.
  • Optionally reschedule the remainder of the production run quantity.
  • Co-production enables multiple materials to be created at the same time.
  • Group similar production orders together through the production order reference.
  • Optionally link production orders back to the customer order.
  • Receive alerts when production order deadline dates are off-track.
  • MES provides additional confirmation points compared to ERP, for additional visibility.
  • Optionally download routings from ERP.
  • Track each individual manufacturing operation.
  • Optionally scan barcodes at each operation to streamline data collection.
  • Optionally enforce sign-off at each stage of production.
  • Record the planned quantity versus the actual quantity.
  • Confirm completed operations to ERP.
  • All data in MES is tied back to the relevant production order, offering a holistic reporting approach across all factory operations.
  • Full history of each production order.

Benefits

Automatic
  • Automatically start production runs through a PLC signal.
  • Optionally enable MES to control the production line through OPC.
  • Improve operator effectiveness and optimize their time by starting, changing and stopping jobs automatically.
Accuracy
  • Automatic data collection reduces errors and improves timing accuracy.
  • Data collected directly from the machine cannot be disputed or altered.
Real time
  • Overcome ERP systems limitations in tracking progress, by providing production with a real-time view of the production order status.
  • Improve reactivity through real-time alerts, notifications, and escalation.
  • Use live dashboards around the factory to give a real-time view of production.
Improve communication
  • Go paperless.
  • Digital communication is faster, simpler, more efficient, and more environmentally friendly.
  • Production order progress is easily tracked and visible.
  • Everyone can see what is being done, who is doing it, what is waiting and why.
  • Always provide the latest material and production order documentation to operators.
  • Improve communication between production and planning to reduce response times.
Reporting
  • All data links back to the production run.
  • Full traceability of everything related to the production order, such as quality checks, materials consumed, and lots created.
  • Powerful reporting to aggregate production run data over time, show trends and enable for continuous improvements.
  • Current and historic production figures displayed to operator to give visibility of the process.

Some benefits are only available when combined with functionality in other modules.