SUMMARY

• Production Scheduling
• Resources allocation and status
• Process management
• Inventory Tracking and Management
• Exception Management
• Performance Management
• Performance Analysis
• Production tracking and genealogy
• Data collection and storage
• Quality management
• Genealogy / Product Traceability
• Labor management
• Maintenance management

According to a survey by MESA and Industry Week, 43 percent of respondents see smart manufacturing as an extension of their continuous improvement/innovation/lean initiatives. “This is the biggest catalyst for new possibilities that I’ve seen in my 30 years in manufacturing,” MESA President Mike Yost says. Though it is in some ways an extension of business as usual-the next step in continuous improvement or evolution of MES, “It’s the opportunity to achieve a quantum leap.” 

Romek Kowalczyk, Product Manager at HiFlow Solutions, developed the MES as an integral part of HiFLow’s production and business management system. “An MES connects traditional manufacturing with digital technologies, ensuring real-time data exchange and informed decision-making. Integration with an ERP/MIS streamlines processes, reduces costs, and enhances production efficiency.” 

A paperless environment: The manufacturing process has always involved extensive paper documentation, including work orders, job tickets, material issue slips, and routing cards, resulting in significant paper usage. By adopting an MES, companies can digitize these documents, eliminating the need for hard copies and streamlining production workflows. 

Reduction of manual processes: Preparing, updating, distributing, and managing documents, such as work instructions, can be time-consuming and prone to errors. With an MES in place, companies can ensure that all stakeholders have access to the latest information, facilitating efficient communication and collaboration between production teams and management. 

Supporting sustainability: An MES optimizes resource usage, reducing waste, improving energy efficiency, ensuring environmental compliance, and supporting continuous improvement efforts. By integrating sustainability principles into manufacturing operations, companies can minimize their environmental impact and contribute to a more sustainable future. 

Regulatory compliance: MES plays a critical role in ensuring compliance with industry regulations, particularly in sectors such as Food and Beverage, Pharmaceutical, and Aerospace, where materials traceability is essential. 

MES has become a foundational element of smart manufacturing.   

As real-time data collection, integration, and analysis become more critical to packaging manufacturing business success, MES continues to transform manufacturing. MES solutions enhance and further expand ERP capabilities and assist in a packaging company’s smart manufacturing journey.