What is a Manufacturing Execution System (MES)?

A Manufacturing Execution System (MES) is a software system for monitoring, managing, and documenting manufacturing operations in real-time. It connects ERP-based production planning with production execution on the shop floor and provides transparency across production processes, statuses, and production data.

How does an MES differ from an ERP system?

An ERP system focuses on planning and managing business processes, while an MES is designed for real-time production execution. An MES runs directly on the shop floor and ensures continuous confirmation of production, quality, and operational status data to the ERP system.

What are the benefits of using an MES in manufacturing?

A Manufacturing Execution System improves shop floor transparency, reduces manual data entries, increases data accuracy, and supports stable, integrated manufacturing processes based on real-time production data.

Which companies benefit from using an MES?

MES solutions are modular and scalable and can be adapted to different manufacturing environments. They are suitable for manufacturing companies of various sizes and industries and can be implemented step by step, according to the organization’s production maturity.

FAST MES

Bring measurable efficiency and transparency to your production processes

Seamless ERP integration of relevant production data between ERP and the shop floor

FAST MES is a modular and holistic end-to-end solution for transfer, collecting, and processing of production data – directly between your central ERP system (SAP ECC or SAP S/4HANA) and the shop floor.

With FAST MES (Manufacturing Execution System), machine operators can register production orders, record setup, production, and teardown phases, confirm scrap and yield quantities, and capture reasons for downtime or disruptions – all in real time and fully integrated into your SAP processes.

The solution is designed to ensure seamless integration, business continuity, and scalable performance. This creates a consistent link between planning and execution, making manufacturing operations more efficient, transparent, and future-proof.

Challenges in the interaction between ERP and the shop floor

In many manufacturing companies, historically grown and heterogeneous system landscapes, together with insufficient integration between ERP systems and the shop floor, prevent end-to-end transparency and effective production management. Information is often fragmented or only available with delays, impacting efficiency, data quality, and decision-making.

Typical characteristics of these challenges consist of:

Different systems without consistent integration between ERP and manufacturing
Redundant data maintenance without a clear single point of truth
High manual efforts for recording production and confirmation data
Delayed or incomplete transparency regarding order status, downtime, and quality
Limited traceability across batches, handling units, and work in process
Low user acceptance due to complex or non-role-based user interfaces

While these challenges rarely lead to immediate production stoppages, they significantly hinder the efficient, transparent, and future-oriented evolution of manufacturing operations.

FAST MES addresses these challenges directly with an integrated, stable, and future-proof solution.

Seamless ERP integration

Real-time synchronization of production and confirmation data between the ERP system (SAP ECC or SAP S/4HANA) and the shop floor – ensuring consistent information and a single, reliable data stock.

Maximum process reliability

Production remains fully operational even during planned or unplanned system outages. Local data buffering and offline capability ensure continuous operations without data loss.

Smart manufacturing

FAST MES provides the foundation for Industry 4.0, IIoT-, and AI-driven use cases – from automated data collection and predictive quality assurance and maintenance optimization to the usage of AI agents.

Key features of FAST MES

FAST MES connects the manufacturing layer with the ERP system and supports end-to-end execution, confirmation, and transparency of production processes – stable, scalable, and fully integrated.

Real-time analysis of availability, performance, and quality at the machine level – providing a transparent basis for evaluating equipment efficiency and systematically optimizing production.
A modern, browser-based design enables intuitive user experience. Modules can be flexibly combined – from time and quantity confirmations to material movements, quality management, and traceability.
Real-time synchronization of relevant production data between SAP ECC or SAP S/4HANA and the shop floor – providing consistent, up-to-date information for knowledgeable decision-making.
Local data storage ensures that production orders and confirmations can continue to be processed even in the event of planned or unplanned ERP system interruptions.
A wide range of interfaces and protocols enables easy integration of third-party hardware and software – forming the basis for automated processes and AI-driven scenarios such as predictive maintenance and machine learning.
Support for relevant goods movements in production and intralogistics, like goods issue and goods receipt postings incl. packing processes.
Integration of external labeling solutions for automated label print and usage in manufacturing – ensuring unique identification and consistent labeling across material and production flows.
FAST MES utilizes proven interfaces for consistent, bidirectional synchronization with SAP – reducing IT efforts and ensuring end-to-end process reliability.
On-premise and edge availability ensures business and production continuity even in the event of internet or cloud service outages.
Integrated quality management for recording inspection points and evaluating inspection characteristics – supporting production release, initial sample check, in-process inspection, and goods receipt inspections.
Integrated batch- and handling-unit-based traceability ensures end-to-end transparency from raw material to finished product, including support for work in process (WIP) such as WIP batches, intramaterial, or semi-finished goods.
Modular design and a modern architecture make FAST MES flexible, robust, and scalable – independent of machine type or manufacturing technology.

Customer story: Model takes QM to the next level

When it comes to the production of goods, their quality is key. To be able to guarantee this, a good and easily accessible quality management system is essential.

In order to introduce such a system and to adapt it perfectly to all their requirements, Model commissioned delaware.

read the full story

Home of Manufacturing

We take a holistic approach to industrial digitalization – from planning to production. Our FAST solutions connect processes, systems, and people into an integrated manufacturing landscape.

Cross-industry expertise

Whether metal, plastics, paper, or textiles – we transfer proven MES best practices across industries to create solutions that scale beyond individual sectors.

SAP Platinum Partner

As a long-standing SAP Platinum Partner, we bring in-depth expertise in integrating MES solutions with SAP ECC and SAP S/4HANA – enabling consistent, future-proof manufacturing processes.

Local presence, global scalability

With regional proximity and international experience, we support MES transformation projects of any scale – from the first pilot line to global rollouts.

FAQs about MES

A Manufacturing Execution System (MES) is a software system for monitoring, managing, and documenting manufacturing operations in real-time. It connects ERP-based production planning with production execution on the shop floor and provides transparency across production processes, statuses, and production data.
An ERP system focuses on planning and managing business processes, while an MES is designed for real-time production execution. An MES runs directly on the shop floor and ensures continuous confirmation of production, quality, and operational status data to the ERP system.
A Manufacturing Execution System improves shop floor transparency, reduces manual data entries, increases data accuracy, and supports stable, integrated manufacturing processes based on real-time production data.
MES solutions are modular and scalable and can be adapted to different manufacturing environments. They are suitable for manufacturing companies of various sizes and industries and can be implemented step by step, according to the organization’s production maturity.