Matt Barber
This series breaks down what MES/MOM does, one function at a time.
Many people think of MES as production only: running orders and calculating OEE. That's the production pillar, and it's important. But operators don't stop there. They perform quality checks, consume and create material, look after their equipment and follow procedures. A full MOM supports all of it, on the same data.
If you're new to the subject, start with What is MES/MOM?, then use this page to go deeper into each function.
Production
Production monitoring. Running and monitoring production orders in real time: order context, machine integration, counts, scrap, downtime and the data behind OEE.
Production scheduling. What ERP schedules and what MES/MOM fine-tunes, so the shopfloor always sees a live plan.
Quality
Quality operations. Inspection plans, in-line checks, SPC, non-conformances and holds, all tied back to the order and the material.
Inventory
Inventory management. Everything from raw materials to finished goods: lots, containers, consumption, labelling and traceability.
Warehouse management and logistics. Receiving, putaway, picking, supermarkets and line-side replenishment.
The two are closely linked. Inventory management is about the material itself and its history. Logistics is about moving it to the right place at the right time.
Maintenance
Maintenance. Fault reporting, work orders, planned and condition-based maintenance, and autonomous maintenance by operators, on the same downtime data production uses.
Beyond the four pillars
Tooling. Tool life, cavities, readiness and setups, so the order doesn't wait for the tool.
Energy. Consumption by machine and product, so you can see where energy actually goes.
Connected worker. Checklists, shift handover, skills and digital work instructions. Start with Connected worker vs MES, then read about shift handover, skills enforcement, digital work instructions and AI for frontline workers.
How the functions connect
Each function overlaps with the others. A quality check depends on what's being produced. A material lot carries its inspection results. Downtime matters to production and maintenance alike, and a tool's condition affects quality.
When the functions share one platform, that context is captured automatically. When they're separate systems integrated together, some of it is lost at each boundary, and operators may switch between applications. Both approaches are used, and the trade-offs are covered in MES vs MOM and Code, build, stitch or configure.
When you evaluate MES/MOM, it's worth asking which of these functions a product covers in depth, and whether they share one data model.
Not sure which functions matter most for your job? The role explorer shows which applications matter to each role, from CEO to operator.
Which of these functions is still running on paper or spreadsheets in your factory?
