businessnewstipsIntroduction
MES production software is among the major Industry 4.0 Solutions that are going to change and transform the manufacturing industry.
These tools are essential for both IT and non-IT operations and can accelerate Manufacturing according to changing market demands. With being easily composable through low-code manufacturing, composable MES is the key driver behind manufacturing digital transformations.
According to Gartner, the organizations that embrace composability have been able to deliver features 80% faster than their competitors. Manufacturers embracing composable MES can respond without disrupting or affecting their customer needs.
With the growing demand for fast manufacturing processes, composable MES is in high demand. Please read this blog post to learn about the major components of such MES and how to build them.
Composable MES: The Importance of Future-Ready Manufacturing
The manufacturing industry deals with constant ups and downs in product demand, which calls for an agile manufacturing solution. MES production software, being the heart of the automated manufacturing process, helps manage the process at scale.
However, the traditional MES is rigid and typically appears as a one giant application. So, if any component of the application needs to be updated, the entire software has to go through an overhaul. But that’s not the case with composable MES.
Composable MES helps achieve agility in the production process. Just as the name suggests, composable MES software is made from different interoperable components. It has different plug-and-play modules instead of a giant application.
The independent components of a no-code MES integrate using open APIs and a unified data platform. It involves a cloud native approach to flexibility supporting future-ready operation.
The positive side of this is: the MES doesn’t need to stop for quick updates or major upgrades. Users can take the components apart and improve them in isolation before integrating again. What it does is reduce implementation time and improve agility for the composable MES.
Understanding the Core Components & Features of Composable MES
Following are the necessary components of a composable MES:
App Suites/Moduler Applications: The composable MES software leverages distinct and connected applications that add different functions such as production management, inventory, and quality.
Common Data Model: There’s usually a unified data structure of modules that helps share information and communicate directly.
Integration Capabilities: this part includes pre-built connectors, APIs, no-code edge connectivity, IoT devices, and integration with other systems, and existing system resources like ERP solutions.
Process Monitoring & Analysis: with composable MES, users have the dashboard and data-driven insights allowing continuous improvement of the production metrics and transparent decision making.
Quality Management: Tools for controlling, monitoring, and the assurance of quality throughout the process are also important parts of composable MES software.
Inventory Management: The inventory management components include solutions for End-to-end tracking of raw materials, work-in-progress, and finished goods.
Human-Centric Design: There must be an intuitive interface, and streamlined workflows are made to enhance the user experience for the manufacturing workforce.
How do you Build an Agile and Adaptive Manufacturing System?
In the changing market for both Manufacturing and other industries, it’s essential to stay prepared to improve, upgrade, and deploy. Composable MES, being a solution, requires a Low-code/no-code approach. This way, it’s easier to improve and revolutionize Manufacturing as a process.
With agile development, MES platforms can empower both IT and non-IT companies for building and deploying solutions fast and foster innovation.
It starts by taking a modular approach to MES development with a focus on agility, extensibility, and accessibility. Developers focus on a human-centric design, leveraging pre-built applications and flexible platforms to provide solutions to different operational requirements.
Here’s a step-by-step process if you were curious to know how an agile MES is built.
Steps to Build a Composable MES:
1. Start with an App Suite
Start by identifying the manufacturing challenges you’ll solve through the composable MES software and select a suite of applications accordingly. Choose a platform, Tulip, for example, offering a pre-built app suite. These app suites are designed to provide the best practices for building blocks for the MES solution.
2. Configure and Tailor the Solution
Once you have decided on different applications you’ll be using for operations and workflows, prepare to customize them. This process involves using libraries of different widgets, apps, and platforms that help create a system that fits your unique requirements permanently.
3. Integrate and Extend
Connect your composable MES using existing third-party systems or integrate future technologies with open APIs or some pre-built connectors. This will enable data flow and system interoperability.
4. Deploy, Optimize, and Continuously Improve
At the final step, you’ll have to implement the tailored MES at the manufacturing floor, helping you improve your capabilities and extend at scale as need arises.
The entire process also includes using features such as AI, visitation, and edge connectivity to ensure ongoing operations. These features and newly added tools help with ongoing optimization and adaptation.
Common Use Cases of Composable MES
Composable MES supports and transforms different industries. Following are some common mentions to remember:
Supply Chain Visibility
Low-code platforms can help develop applications providing real-time visibility into the supply chain. It helps oversee the entire supply chain process from the raw materials to the finished product.
Automated Workflows
These platforms help automate repetitive tasks and workflows, freeing up human resources to improve strategic activities.
Real-time Data Analysis
With low-code or no-code solutions, it’s easier to build applications collecting and analyzing data from different sources. This helps manufacturers to leverage valuable insights for making critical decisions.
Remote Operations
Low-code manufacturing applications are great for deployment at remote manufacturing hubs and warehouses. What’s great is that locations with limited to zero network connectivity can seamlessly operate with a composable MES helping it out. For remote operations, composable MES facilitates faster workflow in diverse environments.
Building Fasters MES for the Future
Manufacturing hubs and warehouses that leverage configurable MES have a competitive edge against their competitors. From reducing cost at production to improving manufacturing agility, these tools deploy fast and handle tasks quickly and efficiently.
Furthermore, the reduced implementation of these tools helps save time and reduce wait time, causing minimum to no operational hurdles, saving cost in the process. If you’re building a composable MES for your manufacturing needs, ensure to keep all necessary components in mind.
Clay Leger
Simon
