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Production/Manufacturing

MES (Manufacturing Execution System)

Tracks and controls all manufacturing floor activities in real-time, from production planning and work orders to process management and performance recording.

ISA-95 (Enterprise Integration Standard)ISO 9001 (Quality Management System)
01

Are you facing these challenges?

1. It is difficult to know what is happening on the shop floor from the office

You issued a work order, but to find out which process step it has reached, you have to call the shop floor. The daily production report is only compiled by the next morning, so yesterday's problems are discovered today. OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness) is calculated manually or not measured at all.

2. LOT traceability gaps make it difficult to assess the scope of quality issues

You cannot see at a glance how raw material LOTs connect to production LOTs and then to finished product serial numbers. When defects occur, it takes days to determine the scope of impact, and there is insufficient evidence to define recall boundaries. You are unable to provide the bidirectional traceability (Forward/Backward) that customers require through a system.

3. You want to collect equipment data, but protocols vary widely

Some equipment in your factory supports OPC-UA, others only support Modbus, and some legacy machines have no communication ports at all. The burden of building separate middleware for each protocol is delaying your smart factory transformation.

4. Automotive OEM customer quality requirements are becoming increasingly demanding

You are required to manage IATF 16949-based FMEA, Control Plans, MSA (GR&R), PPAP, and SPC, but each is managed in separate systems or Excel. 8D reports are prepared manually, and process capability indices (Cp/Cpk) are calculated by hand.

5. There is no system to manage process-specific special parameters

SMT line reflow temperature profiles, injection molding pressures/holding pressures/mold temperatures, welding currents/voltages/gas flow rates -- there is no system to systematically record and manage process-critical parameters, causing process condition change history to be lost.


02

Here is how we solve it

Complete shop-floor management from work order to production closeout

The entire work order lifecycle is managed within the system.

ERP production orders are automatically converted to work orders. Process assignment, material verification, mold setup, production reporting, and closeout for each work order are all connected. Work order status (Queued → In Progress → Complete/Hold/Cancel) is updated in real time, with optimistic locking to prevent status conflicts during concurrent operations.

  • Production order → automatic work order generation (sourceDocumentConfig)
  • Process-level tracking: work_order_processes sub-table
  • Remaining quantity / progress rate auto-calculation
  • Shift management: complete system from shift definition → shift calendar → shift handover

Real-time OEE visibility

Availability, performance, and quality rates are automatically calculated.

TimescaleDB-based time-series data produces OEE at 1-minute intervals in real time. Without any manual aggregation, OEE trends by equipment and line are visible on dashboards. Takt time recording and deviation analysis, yield and defect rates are also automatically calculated.

  • OEE = Availability x Performance x Quality auto-calculated
  • 1-minute window real-time OEE records
  • Daily production report auto-generation
  • Production KPI target vs. actual tracking

Seamless LOT traceability from raw materials to finished goods

Integrated LOT traceability across 12 solutions is provided.

When a raw material LOT is received, every process it passes through, every piece of equipment it is processed on, and every finished product LOT it is merged into is recorded as genealogy. When defects occur, the impact scope of the relevant LOT can be simulated in forward, backward, or both directions, enabling rapid identification of recall targets.

  • LOT hierarchy: split, merge, parent-child relationship management
  • LOT process history: entry/completion/parameter records per process
  • LOT material linkage: raw material LOT ↔ production LOT mapping
  • Recall simulation: Forward/Backward/Both tracing
  • 12-solution integration: ERP, QMS, WMS, SPC, HACCP, TMS, LIMS, cGMP, and more

Connect any equipment with 8 protocols

Simply select the equipment communication protocol.

OPC-UA, Modbus-TCP, Modbus-RTU, MQTT, EtherNet/IP, PROFINET, CC-Link, MT-Connect -- 8 protocols are supported, enabling communication with most equipment in your factory. Alarm management is structured in 4 levels (Master → Event → Statistics → Interlock), allowing automatic response rules for equipment anomalies.

  • Interlock rules for inspection failures, parameter deviations, mold life exceedance, emergency stops, etc.
  • Alarm event history management and statistical analysis
  • Tag data collection (tag_data_raw): TimescaleDB-based with 90-day retention

36+ POP screens for shop-floor workers

Touch-optimized screens dedicated to the shop floor are ready.

36+ POP screens are built in for shop-floor tasks including production result entry, material input, defect registration, LOT scanning, and process execution. 6 layout types (andon board, input form, scan, monitoring, list, process execution) address various operational scenarios.

  • Barcode/QR scan support
  • Offline mode: operations continue during network outages, auto-sync on reconnection
  • SPC mini-charts: real-time control charts within process inspection screens
  • Touch optimization: configurable button and font sizes
  • Automatic LOT numbering: prefix + date format + sequence combination

IATF 16949 Five Core Tools are built in

Quality tools required for automotive OEM supply are available directly in the system.

All 5 Core Tools are built in: FMEA (Failure Mode and Effects Analysis), Control Plan, MSA/GR&R (Measurement Systems Analysis), PPAP (Production Part Approval Process), and SPC (Statistical Process Control). 8D Problem Solving reports can be completed through all D1-D8 stages, and APQP 5-phase gate reviews are also supported.

  • SPC: Cp/Cpk/Pp/Ppk process capability index history management
  • Attribute SPC: p/np/c/u control charts
  • FMEA: automatic RPN calculation
  • 8D Report: systematic 8-step problem solving

03

Global standards this solution follows

This section introduces the key international standards in the MES domain and what each standard means for your manufacturing operations. MES functionality is structured based on frameworks defined by multiple international standards bodies. Using an MES that follows these standards allows you to demonstrate compatibility without separate explanation during overseas OEM customer system audits.

ISA-95 (IEC 62264) -- International Standard for Manufacturing Enterprise Integration

Why does this standard matter?

ISA-95 defines Level 3 activities between ERP (management level, Level 4) and the manufacturing floor (equipment level, Levels 0-2). Following this standard ensures that data flows naturally between ERP and MES, enabling executives to view shop-floor data in real time while management decisions are immediately reflected on the floor. ISA-95 compliance is a baseline requirement verified during global OEM customer system audits.

How is it applied in VEXPLOR?

ISA-95 Functional AreaWhat It Means for Your OperationsVEXPLOR Approach
Production Operations ManagementEnd-to-end tracking from work orders to production closeoutWork orders, production results, and OEE records are connected in a single flow
Maintenance Operations ManagementIntegrated management of equipment downtime history and maintenance activitiesEquipment downtimes, spare parts management, automatic linkage with EAM solution
Quality Operations ManagementSystematic collection and response to shop-floor quality dataDefects, final inspections, CAPA records, SPC data -- collaboration with QMS solution
Inventory Operations ManagementVisibility into material flow from input to finished goodsMaterial consumption, WIP tracking, LOT tracking

ISA-88 (IEC 61512) -- International Standard for Batch Manufacturing

Why does this standard matter?

ISA-88 defines the hierarchical structure of batch manufacturing (Procedure → Unit Procedure → Operation → Phase). For companies operating batch processes in pharmaceuticals, chemicals, or food, ISA-88 compliance is essential. Following this standard ensures complete manufacturing records per batch, securing the traceability required for FDA audits and food safety certifications.

How is it applied in VEXPLOR?

ISA-88 LayerWhat It Means for Your OperationsVEXPLOR Approach
Physical ModelHierarchical structure definition of equipment and production linesEquipment master, production lines
Procedural ModelStage-by-stage execution procedure management for batch manufacturing4-level hierarchy: batch_procedures → batch_unit_procedures → batch_operations_s88 → batch_phases
Process ModelStandardization of recipes and process conditionsProcess recipes, recipe steps
Batch RecordComplete manufacturing history preservation per batchBatch records, batch material charges

Batch genealogy traces, golden batch profiles, and campaign management are also included, providing world-class batch management.

MESA 11 Functions -- International Standard for MES Evaluation

Why does this standard matter?

MESA (Manufacturing Enterprise Solutions Association) defined 11 core MES functions. Global enterprises use these 11 functions as a checklist when selecting MES, and customers frequently ask "How does your MES address the MESA framework?" When functionality is structured according to this framework, you can clearly present your response to each item during MES adoption evaluations.

How is it applied in VEXPLOR?

MESA FunctionWhat It Means for Your OperationsVEXPLOR Approach
1. Resource Allocation & StatusReal-time visibility into worker and equipment availabilityWorker assignments, equipment master
2. Operations SchedulingShift and line-based production schedulingProduction schedules, shift calendar
3. DispatchingAutomatic conversion from production orders to shop-floor work ordersWork orders, work order processes
4. Document ControlShop-floor workers can immediately access the latest work instructionsElectronic work instructions, document templates
5. Data CollectionAutomatic/semi-automatic collection of shop-floor data36+ POP screens, tag data (tag_data_raw), 8-protocol equipment communication (equipment_comm_tags)
6. Labor ManagementAutomatic aggregation of per-worker labor hours and costsLabor time tracking, labor cost allocation
7. Quality ManagementIntegrated management of IATF 16949 Five Core Tool dataDefects, SPC (spc_data), CAPA (capa_records), FMEA (fmea_records), Control Plan
8. Process ManagementSystematic recording of process-critical parametersProcess definitions, process parameters, routing operations
9. Maintenance ManagementSpare parts management and mold maintenance historySpare parts, mold maintenance history, EAM solution linkage
10. Product Tracking & GenealogyBidirectional LOT traceability from raw materials to finished goodsLOT tracking, LOT genealogy, LOT process histories
11. Performance AnalysisAutomatic OEE calculation and KPI-based performance managementOEE records, production KPI targets, daily production reports

MESA 11 Function Average Coverage: 88.6% -- a globally leading level.


04

What sets it apart from existing systems

Deploy MES without writing code

Traditional MES solutions require months to over a year of implementation time. Arrange data tables on the visual canvas and connect relationships, and the 6-stage automated deployment pipeline generates everything from database to screens. When features need to be changed or added, the responsible person can make modifications directly without engaging the vendor.

Select industry-specific process modules as Packs

There is no need to adopt all processes at once. You can select and deploy only the Packs that match your industry and processes.

Pack CategoryIncluded ProcessesTarget Industry
SMT PackSolder paste printing, component placement, reflow, AOI, ICT/FCT, AXI, MSD management -- 13 tablesElectronics assembly
Tier1 PackInjection molding, press, CNC, welding, painting, heat treatment, forging, casting -- 8 PacksAutomotive parts
Tier2 PackAssembly, plating, painting, heat treatment, surface treatment -- 5 PacksGeneral manufacturing
Tier3 PackLaser processing, additive manufacturing (3D printing) -- 2 PacksNext-generation manufacturing

Full SMT line process coverage

For electronics assembly companies, SMT process management is critical. The entire process is systematically managed: SPI inspection (paste height/area/volume), component placement program management (version control, cycle time, approval), reflow profiles (zone temperatures, TAL time), AOI inspection (9 defect codes), and AXI inspection (void rate, joint quality). Feeder management for 7 types (tape 8-24mm, stick, tray, bulk) and MSD (moisture-sensitive device) tracking (IPC/JEDEC J-STD-033) are also included.

One MES integrates with 12 solutions

When you adopt MES, data is naturally shared with 12 solutions including ERP, QMS, EAM, WMS, SPC, APS, and PLM. No separate interface development costs are incurred.

              ERP (Items/BOM/Production Orders/Inventory/Costing) -- Bidirectional sync
              │
              QMS (Inspection/Defects/PPAP) -- Automatic quality hold
              │
              EAM (Equipment Master/Failures/Maintenance) -- Alarm→Failure auto
  MES ────────┤
(Work Orders/  WMS (Receiving/Shipping/Inventory/LOT Movement) -- Integrated LOT tracking
 Results)      │
              SPC (Process Capability/Control Charts) -- Interlock on deviation
              │
              APS (Scheduling/Capacity Planning) -- Schedule feedback
              │
              DT/HACCP/LIMS/TMS/cGMP/PLM/HR -- Specialized integration

05

How does it compare to global solutions?

Versus Siemens Opcenter

Siemens Opcenter is the representative solution in the global MES market. The table below summarizes module-by-module correspondence and what it means for you.

Siemens Opcenter ModuleVEXPLOR Coverage AreaCoverageWhat This Means for You
Execution DiscreteCore MES + Tier1/Tier2 Pack90%Immediately applicable to discrete manufacturing in automotive parts, machinery, etc.
Execution ProcessBatch/continuous process + Tier3 Pack85%Manage batch processes for pharmaceuticals/chemicals/food based on ISA-88
Execution ElectronicsSMT Pack (3Phase/13T)90%Manage the entire SMT line process (SPI-AXI) in a single system
Intelligence (Analytics/BI)OEE, KPI, dashboard widgets75%Basic analytics provided; advanced BI is planned for future development
QualityDefects, SPC, FMEA, 8D, Control Plan (QMS collaboration)85%IATF 16949 Core Tool data queryable directly from MES
APS (Scheduling)Production schedules (APS solution linkage)70%Extend to finite capacity scheduling by activating APS on the same platform
Connect (Equipment Integration)8-protocol communication setup85%Connect to most equipment from OPC-UA to CC-Link

Available in Siemens but not yet fully in VEXPLOR: Advanced BI/analytics dashboards (Opcenter Intelligence level), proprietary equipment driver ecosystem

Available in VEXPLOR but requiring separate purchase/development in Siemens: 36+ POP shop-floor screens, 12-solution native integration, No-Code deployment, offline mode

MESA 11 Function Coverage

Coverage of the 11 core MES functions defined by MESA. This is a frequently used standard in global MES adoption evaluations and can serve as your MES selection checklist.

MESA FunctionVEXPLOR Coverage AreaCoverageWhat This Means for You
1. Resource Allocation/StatusWorker assignments, equipment (EAM linkage)85%Real-time visibility into worker and equipment availability
2. Detailed SchedulingProduction schedules, shift calendar80%Shift-based scheduling, extendable to finite capacity with APS
3. Production DispatchingWork orders, work order processes90%Automatic conversion from production orders to work orders with process-level tracking
4. Document ControlElectronic work instructions, file attachments85%Shop-floor workers access the latest work instructions directly on POP screens
5. Data Collection36+ POP screens, tag data, equipment communication95%Shop-floor data collected automatically/semi-automatically without manual effort
6. Labor ManagementLabor time tracking, labor cost allocation90%Per-worker labor hours and costs are automatically aggregated
7. Quality ManagementDefects, SPC, CAPA, FMEA, 8D, Control Plan95%IATF 16949 Five Core Tools available without separate systems
8. Process ManagementProcess definitions, routing, process parameters90%Process-critical parameters systematically recorded and managed
9. Maintenance ManagementSpare parts, mold maintenance (EAM linkage)80%Basic maintenance provided, full maintenance management via EAM activation
10. Product Tracking/GenealogyLOT tracking, LOT genealogy, LOT process histories95%Bidirectional LOT traceability across 12 solutions for immediate recall scope identification
11. Performance AnalysisOEE, KPI targets, daily reports90%Automatic OEE calculation and KPI tracking for data-driven shop-floor performance management

MESA 11 Function Average Coverage: 88.6% -- globally leading level

Versus Rockwell PLEX, MPDV HYDRA

Comparison with the top 3 global MES providers. Organized around the practical differences you will experience when selecting an MES.

Comparison AreaSiemens OpcenterRockwell PLEXMPDV HYDRAVEXPLORWhat This Means for You
Discrete ManufacturingGlobal top-tierExcellentExcellentExcellentSufficient functionality for automotive/machinery discrete manufacturing
Electronics Assembly (SMT)ExcellentBasicBasicExcellent (SMT 13T)Manage full SMT line without separate solutions
LOT TraceabilityMES+QMS scopeMES+ERP scopeMES scope12-solution integrationIndustry-leading traceability scope
Shop-Floor POPBasicBasicGood36+ screens, offline modeDeploy to shop floor immediately without separate POP development
Cross-Solution Integration3-4 solutions3-4 solutions2-3 solutions12 solutionsNo interface development needed when expanding solutions
No-Code/Deployment FlexibilityCode-based implementationCloud configurationCode-based implementationNo-Code canvas deploymentDramatically reduced implementation time and customization costs

Cross-Solution Integration Comparison vs. Competitors

ItemSiemensRockwellMPDVVEXPLOR
Number of cross-solutions3-4 (Teamcenter, QMS, etc.)3-4 (ERP, QMS, etc.)2-312
Integration methodProprietary APIMiddlewareInterfaceNative canvas integration
SSOT managementSeparated by moduleCloud integrationDB levelrefId-based SSOT convention
LOT traceability scopeMES+QMSMES+ERPMESMES → 12 solutions

06

Expected benefits after implementation

Shop-floor visibility

  • Real-time production status: Work order status, process progress, and OEE are visible in real time on dashboards. No more phone calls to the shop floor.
  • Automatic daily report generation: Time previously spent on manual data compilation is eliminated; production reports are automatically generated based on real-time data.

Quality management enhancement

  • Immediate response to defects: LOT traceability can identify the scope of defect impact within minutes. Industry experience shows that recall scope identification time is reduced from days to hours.
  • OEM audit readiness: IATF 16949 Five Core Tool data is recorded in the system and can be submitted immediately during audits.
  • Process capability management: SPC data is automatically accumulated, enabling Cp/Cpk trend monitoring and proactive detection of process deviations.

Shop-floor adoption ease

  • 36+ POP screens: Dedicated screens for shop-floor workers are ready for immediate use without separate screen development.
  • Offline mode: Operations continue uninterrupted even in locations with unstable networks.
  • Touch optimization: Button and font sizes are configurable for operation even while wearing gloves.

Equipment integration efficiency

  • 8-protocol unified support: Connect to equipment through configuration alone, without building separate middleware for each protocol.
  • Automatic interlock: Automatically stops equipment on inspection failure or parameter deviation to prevent defect propagation.

Cost efficiency

  • Reduced MES implementation timeline: Code-free deployment significantly reduces implementation time compared to traditional MES.
  • Industry-specific Pack selection: Deploy only the processes you need, avoiding costs for unused features.
  • No additional interface costs on expansion: ERP, QMS, WMS, and more integrate within the same platform, eliminating inter-solution integration development costs.

07

Key functional areas

Production Management

Work orders support header-line structure with document-type screen layouts. Production schedules link to work orders, with a complete shift management system (shift definition → shift calendar → shift handover).

Material Management

A dual material tracking system is provided. Material consumption is recorded on both a work order basis (material_consumption) and a results basis (material_consumptions), with inventory synchronization safely processed via idempotency keys. BOM vs. actual input quantity comparison analysis is available.

Batch Process Management

ISA-88 batch model is supported. Procedure → Unit Procedure → Operation → Phase hierarchy, batch records, batch genealogy tracking, golden batch profiles, and campaign management are provided. Ready for immediate use in pharmaceutical, chemical, and food industries.

Labor Management

Per-worker labor time tracking and labor cost allocation are supported. Worker skill certification management and work assignment are linked, ensuring only qualified workers are assigned to relevant processes.


08

Suitable enterprises

IndustrySuitability Rationale
Automotive PartsIATF 16949 Core Tools built in, Tier1 Pack (injection/press/CNC/welding/painting/heat treatment/forging/casting), mold management
Electronics Assembly (SMT)SMT Pack full process coverage (SPI/placement/reflow/AOI/ICT-FCT/AXI/MSD), feeder/reel/nozzle management
Pharmaceutical/Chemical/FoodISA-88 batch model, batch genealogy, golden batch, FDA 21 CFR Part 11 electronic signatures
General Machinery/AssemblyTier2 Pack (assembly/plating/painting/heat treatment/surface treatment), POP screens, LOT traceability
Next-Generation ManufacturingTier3 Pack (laser processing, additive manufacturing), process parameter management

09

Technical foundation

ItemDetails
Time-Series DataTimescaleDB-based (tag data 90-day retention, OEE 1-minute window)
Equipment Communication8 protocols (OPC-UA, Modbus-TCP/RTU, MQTT, EtherNet/IP, PROFINET, CC-Link, MT-Connect)
Offline ModeService Worker + IndexedDB, auto-sync on reconnection
Auto-Calculation25+ calculated columns (OEE, yield, defect rate, RPN, labor cost, etc.)
Electronic SignaturesFDA 21 CFR Part 11 compliant (password, biometric, 2FA)
Deployment Method6-stage automated deployment (DDL → API → UI → Menu → Route → Artifact)

Try it yourself

Apply the MES (Manufacturing Execution System) template on the canvas, and data models to screens are auto-generated.

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