Turn your production data into operational control and manufacturing performance with an MES

The first step is often to collect relevant information on bottlenecks. The goal is to gain efficiency by using indicators like OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness). The MES allows us to contextualize this information to measure performance, and then determine where to invest time and money to improve the process. Simply starting to measure performance brings to light discrepancies (e.g., cycle times that are too high or too low) that were previously unknown.

The most common mistake is not measuring at all, or doing it on paper. Often, quite honestly, an operator will estimate a downtime at 3 minutes, when in the end it lasted 15 minutes. The other classic mistake is having "homemade" indicators where OEE is calculated differently from one machine to another or from one plant to another. The MES brings standardization with reason trees and categories to measure performance the same way everywhere.

Yes. In a discrete environment (like at PTSA), the system relies on operators to report blockages or enter quality measurements. In a process environment, that is where we will talk more about OEE and connect directly to the equipment to collect information. Typically, in an MES, you can manage both very well.

It is to digitalize processes that already work on the shop floor, so as not to generate additional constraints for our team members. Change management is just as crucial: it is extremely important to properly support the team members to ensure that everyone understands what the MES does and how to work with it.

For an operator, it is seeing the history of their downtime and being able to be proactive (e.g., cleaning a part, opening a maintenance ticket). For a supervisor, it is having a quick and general overview of the information to be able to act instantly on problems before they become costly. It is also about prioritization: control comes from having team members work on the right operations at the right time. There is no longer a need to send someone running with a paper plan to handle an emergency; the order appears on the screen instantly. Our team members no longer have to wonder what they should tackle first, everything is controlled and fluid.

Paradoxically, this concern never came up. With the help of a change management team, a "virtual factory" using Lego bins was set up to simulate the flow outside the factory. The friendly aspect of this approach and the simplicity of the tool (two buttons) meant that adoption was very smooth, without reluctance or any notion of tracking. When you manage to keep things simple and offer the right support, the small initial level of stress quickly disappears. The team members realize that in two or three clicks, they can do whatever they need, and they feel much more motivated to work in this environment.

It is not necessarily done by the same module. However, the MES will consolidate the information (fetching downtime, downtime reasons, etc.) to be able to effectively support maintenance management.