If I had to describe the role of the MES (Manufacturing Execution System) in a single phrase, it would be “manufacturing playmaker.” As I mentioned in the previous column, the manufacturing process is divided into multiple layers, and the system performs a different role in each layer.
The MES is at the top layer of the IT-OT integration, and it manages the execution of manufacturing processes; thus, it plays a very important role in making factories smarter (Fig.1). Because improving productivity is the manufacturing industry’s first priority, how to efficiently use resources such as “people, goods, money, and time” to make good products is key.
The MES is typically located between the manufacturing floor network and the ERP, which manages the entire company’s resources. The MES receives production orders and distributes production resources, manages the manufacturing process, and gives instructions and provides support to workers. It is the brain of the smart manufacturing process.
Read more…
Source: Trend Micro
Related story: Forward-looking security analysis of smart factories [Part 3] – Trojanized libraries for industrial IoT devices
Related story: Forward-looking security analysis of smart factories [Part 2] Security risks of industrial application stores